Bhubaneswar: Odisha took another step towards deepening economic ties with Japan as a business delegation from Japan’s Tottori Prefecture held a series of engagements here on Tuesday to explore investment and industrial collaboration opportunities in the state.The delegation interacted with representatives of the state govt, industry bodies and Japanese companies already operating in the state, focusing on opportunities across manufacturing, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and skill development.The visitors began their Odisha tour with discussions at Startup Odisha’s O-Hub and later visited Central Tool Room and Training Centre (CTTC) to understand the state’s technical education and manufacturing ecosystem.At a business roundtable, officials showcased Odisha’s industrial strengths, policy support and investment facilitation mechanisms.Addressing the gathering, Hemant Sharma, additional chief secretary, industries, said Odisha sees significant potential for collaboration with Japanese companies in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, water purification, sustainable sanitation, AI-enabled construction management and skill development.