Koraput: The High Commission of India in London has invited Nabarangpur collector Maheswar Swain, the chief executive officer of Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) Monica Priyadarshini and the deputy CEO of ORMAS, Nabarangpur, Roshan Kartik to participate in Odisha Parab scheduled to be held in London on July 8.The dignitaries have been invited to present the products, achievements and development initiatives of Nabarangpur district and Odisha before an international audience. The event is expected to provide a major platform for promoting the districts traditional handicrafts, millet-based food products, agricultural produce and rural livelihood initiatives.“This is a proud moment for Nabarangpur. Our millet-based products, traditional food items and other rural enterprises are gaining recognition beyond national boundaries. The opportunity to showcase them at an international forum like Odisha Parab will help create new market avenues for our producers and strengthen rural livelihood,” the collector said.According to Kartik, the invitation follows the growing popularity of ORMAS Nabarangpur products in London. Earlier, Dr Bibhuti Patnaik, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), and Sweta Mohanty, executive director of Global South Corridor, visited Nabarangpur district, where they were introduced to a range of Indravati-branded products developed and marketed by ORMAS.Subsequently, Sweta Mohanty, along with retail assistant Punyatoya Panda and IT and tourism entrepreneur Sonali Panda, showcased the products at promotional events in London. “Products such as ragi mixture, ragi mudukku, maize ladoo, jaggery and ragi powder reportedly received an enthusiastic response from members of the Indian diaspora for their taste, quality and attractive packaging,” said Kartik.Officials said the positive feedback and growing demand for the products prompted the High Commission of India in London to invite the district representatives to explore market linkages and opportunities for expanding the international reach of Nabarangpur’s rural products.“The invitation is a matter of pride for the district and reflects the hard work of local farmers, women self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs,” the collector said.“The participation of the district delegation in Odisha Parab is expected to open new avenues for export promotion, business partnerships and global visibility for Nabarangpur’s unique products and rural development initiatives,” he added.ORMAS officials said the district administration and ORMAS have been working closely with producer groups and self-help groups to improve product quality, branding and packaging, enabling local products to compete in wider markets.
