Bhubaneswar: As geopolitical competition sharpens in the Bay of Bengal region, Bhubaneswar is hosting “Purvodaya Perspectives 2025”, a high-level strategic conference aimed at repositioning India’s eastern states as a transnational maritime and economic gateway to Southeast Asia.
Organised by The Energy Forum (TEF), the two-day conference is being held on December 13 and 14 at Swosti Hotel, bringing together policymakers, strategic experts, diplomats and industry leaders. The event focuses on strengthening economic, maritime and strategic linkages between eastern India and Southeast Asia amid shifting regional dynamics.
The conference is set against the backdrop of the Bay of Bengal and the Malacca Strait handling nearly one-fourth of global maritime trade, making the region a critical node in international commerce and security. Speakers highlighted India’s evolving maritime vision, noting a transition from the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) framework to the broader MAHASAGAR approach, which emphasises deeper regional integration and maritime influence.
From Industrial Hub to Maritime Gateway
Initially launched in 2020 by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Purvodaya mission was conceived to develop eastern India as a steel and industrial powerhouse. Over time, the initiative has expanded its scope. The 2025 edition reflects this strategic pivot, aligning with recent infrastructure-focused budgetary allocations announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The new agenda prioritises physical and economic integration with Southeast Asia through key connectivity projects, including the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, envisioned as a vital corridor for trade, mobility and regional cooperation.
Key Focus Areas
Discussions at the conference are centred around countering rising regional competition, particularly China’s growing footprint in Myanmar, and enhancing collaboration through multilateral platforms such as BIMSTEC and ASEAN.
Another major theme is the creation of economic corridors to integrate eastern India’s manufacturing and resource base with Southeast Asian value chains, enabling smoother trade flows and industrial partnerships.
Maritime security also features prominently on the agenda, with sessions dedicated to undersea domain awareness, hydrography and maritime surveillance in the Bay of Bengal, underscoring the region’s importance to India’s security architecture.
“The conference seeks to explore how the Bay of Bengal can emerge as a strategic focal point for India’s maritime trade, connectivity and regional influence,” a TEF representative said.
By hosting Purvodaya Perspectives 2025, Bhubaneswar reinforces its growing role as a platform for strategic dialogue, aligning Odisha and eastern India more closely with India’s broader Indo-Pacific vision.
-OdishaAge
