The conclave, organised by Interview Times, brought together prominent policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, diplomats, academicians and business executives from across India to discuss Odisha’s growth trajectory and its vision of becoming a developed and globally competitive state.
The event was attended by Honourable Member of Parliament Shri R.N. Behera, CEO of Startup Odisha Sh. S.R. Pradhan IAS, Consul General of India in Auckland Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Padma Shri Dr. Ashok Mahapatra, CEO of TPCODL Sh. Gajanan S. Kale and Chairman Kiri Industries Sh. Manish Kiri.
Addressing the gathering, Captain Rahul Bali delivered his keynote address titled “Celebrating Odisha – Building a Global Destination Through Culture, Art & Tourism”, highlighting how Odisha’s cultural heritage, spiritual traditions, artistic excellence, natural beauty and tourism assets can be strategically leveraged to promote economic growth, investment and international visibility.
Captain Bali commended the Government of Odisha under the leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi for its commitment towards accelerating economic development, infrastructure creation, tourism promotion and investment attraction.
He also appreciated the efforts of Dr. Dibyajit Sahu in making the National CEO Conclave Odisha a distinguished platform for showcasing Odisha’s potential to national and global audiences.
“The National CEO Conclave is a visionary initiative that brings together government, industry and thought leaders to collectively shape the future of Odisha. Such platforms play a vital role in showcasing the state’s immense potential and positioning Odisha as a destination for investment, innovation, tourism and cultural excellence,” said Captain Rahul Bali.
During his keynote address, Captain Bali stated that Odisha possesses the necessary elements to emerge as one of Asia’s most compelling tourism destinations. He said, “Odisha is one of India’s greatest untold stories. The state already possesses world-class heritage, spirituality, culture, art, nature and authentic experiences. The opportunity lies in creating greater visibility, stronger storytelling and impactful global positioning.”
Drawing from his international experience in filmmaking and destination promotion, Captain Rahul Bali highlighted the role of cinema as an effective tool for tourism marketing. Referring to global examples and his landmark Indo-Vietnam feature film Love in Vietnam, he explained how films, festivals and the creative economy, including media, arts and cultural experiences, can boost tourism, attract investment, generate employment and strengthen a destination’s global identity.
“Culture is no longer merely a heritage asset to be preserved. It is economic capital that can create jobs, generate tourism revenues, attract investment and build a strong global identity,” Captain Bali said.
Captain Rahul Bali further advocated positioning Odisha as a preferred destination for domestic and international film productions by promoting filmmaker-friendly policies, streamlined permissions and stronger engagement with the global film industry.
He proposed a long-term vision that includes a Global Film Odisha Mission, an internationally recognised Odisha International Film Festival, enhanced destination branding initiatives under an Experience Odisha Campaign and greater integration of culture, tourism and creative industries into the state’s economic development strategy.
His keynote received a positive response from business leaders, policymakers and delegates who appreciated the roadmap presented for leveraging Odisha’s cultural and tourism strengths as engines of economic transformation under the core theme of “Viksit Odisha 2030” and nation-building.
Following his keynote address, Captain Rahul Bali held an interaction with the Chief Secretary of Odisha, Ms. Anu Garg, IAS, in the presence of Honourable Consul General of India in Auckland, New Zealand, Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi.
During the meeting, Captain Rahul Bali shared his vision of positioning Odisha as a premier destination for domestic and international film productions and highlighted the role of cinema in promoting tourism and destination branding. He discussed showcasing Odisha’s heritage, culture and natural beauty through films and expressed interest in exploring the state as a location for one of his forthcoming film projects in collaboration with the film industry.
Ms. Anu Garg appreciated the potential of film-led destination promotion and welcomed the exchange of ideas on how creative industries can contribute to tourism development, investment attraction and economic growth.
The discussion reflected a shared interest in exploring opportunities that could strengthen Odisha’s position as an attractive destination for filmmaking, tourism and cultural engagement.
The presence of Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Honourable Consul General of India in Auckland, added an international perspective to the discussions and highlighted the importance of cultural diplomacy, tourism promotion and creative collaborations in strengthening India’s global outreach.
Concluding his address, Captain Rahul Bali expressed confidence that Odisha is uniquely positioned to emerge as one of India’s leading destinations for tourism, culture, film production and investment.
“Tourism is not built by monuments alone. It is built through stories, experiences, festivals, films and emotional connections. Odisha has all the ingredients necessary to become a globally admired destination. With visionary leadership, strategic collaboration and effective storytelling, the state can create a powerful model of sustainable and inclusive growth,” said Bali.
The keynote address and subsequent discussions highlighted the growing role of culture, tourism and creative industries as important pillars of economic development and reflected the opportunities ahead for Odisha in strengthening its global identity.
About Captain Rahul Bali
Captain Rahul Bali is an Indian Army Veteran, Film Producer, Entrepreneur, Festival Curator and Cultural Diplomat. He is the Producer of Love in Vietnam and the upcoming international feature film SILAA, and has played a significant role in strengthening cultural, tourism and economic ties between India and several countries through cinema, festivals and international collaborations.
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