By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 28, 2018: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said the state government’s focused approach on technical education and vocational training has made Odisha a leader in skill training in the country.

Naveen was addressing on the occasion of recruitment of 216 lectures in government polytechnics and government engineering schools and urged them to contribute their bit for the mission Skilled-in-Odisha.

Felicitating the winners of India Skills 2018, the national level skills competition, here at a special function, the chief minister said ‘Skilled-in-Odisha’s skill development mission is fast emerging as a global brand.

“It will certainly help in attracting industries to the state and give a boost to the economic growth of the state,” Naveen said.

Stating that the recent Make in Odisha conclave, state’s flagship biennial investors’ meet drew investment intents worth Rs 4.19 lakh crore, the chief minister said the investment intents have the potential to generate around 6 lakh employment opportunities.

“Our robust skill ecosystem will be highly beneficial to our youth and will aid the industrial growth of Odisha,” he added.

Odisha won total 19 medals including four gold, nine silver and six bronze at the Indian Skills competition. The state has also got two medallions of excellence. The state ranked second among all Indian states, behind Maharashtra that won total 20 medals.

As the winners have qualified for World Skills International, known as the Olympics of skill to be held in Kazan, Russia in 2019, the Odisha Skill Development Authority (OSDA) plans to impart training to them in best places in the state and country.

Odisha bagged medals in categories like restaurant services, water technology, brick laying, electrical installation, health and social services, plastic die engineering, mechanical computer aided-design (M-CAD), web-design and development and bakery.