“Today, Odisha is a national growth story”: MD Jagi Mangat Panda at OTV Foresight 2026

OTV Managing Director Jagi Mangat Panda on Tuesday welcomed policymakers, industry leaders, academicians and eminent personalities to the 16th edition of OTV Foresight 2026, being held in the national capital, Delhi, describing the conclave as a platform of ideas, vision and meaningful dialogue for Odisha’s future.

Addressing the gathering, MD Panda said it was a moment of immense pride and deep satisfaction to host the annual conclave in Delhi - “India’s capital of policy, power, and possibilities.”

“This year, OTV Foresight is bigger, grander, and more ambitious, not just in scale, but in vision. The conversation we are here to have today is also bigger than ever before. We are here to discuss ‘The Making of a Vikshit Odisha’,” she said.

Sixteen Years of a Thought Journey

Reflecting on the journey of OTV Foresight, Panda said the platform was founded 16 years ago with a simple but powerful belief that ideas have the power to change destinies.

“At a time when discussions about Odisha were often limited to challenges and constraints, OTV Foresight chose a different path. We chose to focus on solutions, opportunities, and long-term vision,” she said.

Over the years, the platform has brought together some of the finest minds of India, encouraged constructive debate and generated ideas that matter for Odisha’s future.

“This has been 16 years of dialogue, 16 years of introspection, and 16 years of aspiration,” Panda noted, adding that despite changing political landscapes, evolving economic realities and rapid technological transformation, OTV Foresight has remained steadfast in its purpose.

“Our tagline, ‘Changing Times, Changing Minds’, is not just a slogan. It is a philosophy. Because real change does not begin with policies alone, it begins when mindsets evolve,” she said.

Why Delhi, Why Now

Explaining the decision to host the conclave in Delhi this year, Panda said Odisha today is no longer just a regional story but a national growth story.

“Odisha’s transformation deserves to be discussed at the national centre of influence, where policies are shaped, investments are planned, and future pathways are envisioned,” the OTV MD said.

Delhi, she added, provides the vantage point to place Odisha’s aspirations within the larger narrative of India’s development and ensure that the state’s voice is heard clearly, confidently and credibly.

The Vision of a Vikshit Odisha

MD Jagi Panda further said a Vikshit Odisha is not an abstract idea but a living and evolving vision.

“It is an Odisha that creates opportunities for its youth, empowers its women, protects its natural resources, encourages innovation and entrepreneurship, and ensures that growth is inclusive and sustainable,” she said.

She underlined that development must go beyond traditional definitions, focusing not only on growth but equitable growth, not just infrastructure but human capital, and not just industrialisation but environmental responsibility.

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“Odisha today stands at a critical inflection point. With its strong resource base, improving infrastructure, policy reforms and resilient people, the state is uniquely positioned to become a model of balanced development for the country,” she said.

Role of OTV and Media Responsibility

Highlighting the role of media, Panda said OTV sees its responsibility as going far beyond reporting headlines.

“We see ourselves as a bridge between citizens and policymakers, a platform for unheard voices, and a catalyst for positive change,” she said.

She said OTV Foresight reflects that responsibility by examining gaps, confronting tough questions and pushing for direction. “Because media, at its best, does not just inform, it inspires action,” she added.

Gratitude to Thought Leaders

Panda expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the dignitaries and speakers present at the conclave.

“Your presence adds credibility, depth, and diversity to this platform. Each one of you brings unique perspectives, policy insight, industry experience, academic wisdom or grassroots understanding, and together, these perspectives enrich the conversation on Odisha’s future,” she said.

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Looking Ahead

Concluding her address, Panda said OTV Foresight looks back at 16 years of its journey with humility and hope.

“Humility, because we know the journey of development is long and complex. Hope, because we firmly believe that with the right ideas, the right intent, and the right collaboration, a Vikshit Odisha is within reach,” she said.

She said that the conversations at the conclave are meant to travel beyond the stage, into boardrooms, policymaking spaces, institutions and communities. “Because the times are changing. And as times change, minds must change too,” MD Panda added.