Bhubaneswar to host International Conference “Purvodaya Perspectives 2025” to Strengthen Connectivity Between India’s Eastern Region and Southeast Asia

By Tapaswini Sahoo

Bhubaneswar,  Dec 11 :  The Energy Forum (TEF), New Delhi, announced the upcoming International Conference Purvodaya Perspectives 2025, a flagship platform aimed at advancing dialogue on economic corridors, maritime strategy, regional integration, and sustainable development across India’s eastern states. The two-day event to be held at Swosti Hotel, Bhubaneswar on 13th and 14th December will bring together policymakers, diplomats, scholars, and industry stakeholders to explore how the Purvodaya region can emerge as a major contributor to Vikshit Bharat and India’s Indo-Pacific engagement.

The Purvodaya initiative, coined by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2016, has evolved into a key national priority for accelerating growth in the eastern states, known for their abundant resources, cultural heritage, and historical maritime networks. The Purvodaya initiative with the vision for the accelerated development of India’s eastern region, initially launched in January 2020 by Hon’bleShriDharmendra Pradhan Union Minister Education, Government of India.

During the time of launch the mission’s primary focus was the creation of an integrated steel hub to act as a catalyst for socio-economic growth in the region.

The initiative received further momentum with the Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget announcements in 2024 and 2025, focusing on infrastructure, human capital, and economic opportunities. Notably, the establishment of the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management in Bihar reflects the government’s intensified commitment to the region.

Historically, the Purvodaya statesespecially Odishaserved as India’s maritime bridge to Southeast Asia. Cultural imprints from India are visible across the region, from Angkor Wat in Cambodia to architectural and linguistic influences in Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Recent initiatives, including Odisha’s hosting of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and the Global Investment Summit inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, highlight efforts to reinvigorate diaspora engagement and attract investment.

India’s Act East Policy and emerging Indo-Pacific vision reinforce the significance of connectivity initiativesrail, road, inland waterways, and digital networksthat position the eastern and northeastern states as strategic gateways to Southeast Asia. Key infrastructure projects such as the IndiaMyanmarThailand Trilateral Highway, the Kaladan multimodal project, and new high-speed corridors linking Meghalaya, Assam, and Mizoram underscore this transformation.

With one-fourth of the world’s maritime trade flowing through the Bay of Bengal and the Malacca Strait, the region has emerged as a crucial geopolitical and economic theatre. Growing strategic competition, including China’s expanding presence in Myanmar, highlights the need for stronger regional cooperation through BIMSTEC, ASEAN platforms, and other multilateral frameworks.

Conference Highlights

The 2025 edition of Purvodaya Perspectives will focus on leveraging connectivity, maritime strategy, blue economy cooperation, and emerging technologies to strengthen India’s engagement with Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific. Key questions guiding the conference include:

How can the Purvodaya initiative align with India’s Act East and Indo-Pacific strategies?         What role can connectivity and trade corridors play in linking India’s eastern states with Southeast Asia’s emerging economies?

How can India transition from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR in redefining its maritime partnerships?

What opportunities does the blue economy offer to promote sustainability and long-term cooperation?

Can the Bay of Bengal become a strategic focal point for India’s maritime trade and regional influence?

How can traditional knowledge, community-led models, and regional institutions drive inclusive development?

Pannel discussion will be held on varios topics like (A) Purvodaya and the Indo-Pacific: Aligning Infrastructure, Trade, and Economic CorridorsDiscussion focusing on port modernisation, regional value chains, supply-chain integration, and economic corridors linking India with Southeast Asia, (B) From SAGAR to MAHASAGAR: India’s Transforming Relationship with its Oceanic Partners highlighting maritime security, undersea domain awareness, hydrography, and capacity building with ASEAN and Bay of Bengal littoral nations, (C) Advancing Cooperation for Blue Economy and Sustainability, discussing on marine resource management, combating marine debris, climate impacts, and India-ASEAN collaboration and (D) Frontier Technologies in Shaping the Purvodaya Vision,focusing on supply-chain resilience, geostrategy in the Bay of Bengal, and plurilateral frameworks such as SCRI, IPEF, MGC, IPOI, and BIMSTEC during the 2 days event.