Bhubaneswar: Union Minister for Railways, Electronics & IT, and Information & Broadcasting, Ashwini Vaishnaw, spotlighted Odisha’s pivotal role in shaping India’s technological future at the Sectoral Session on IT/ITeS/ESDM during the Utkarsh Odisha – Make in Odisha Conclave 2025.
The Union Minister announced a ₹7,000 crore investment in Odisha’s IT sector, aimed at transforming the state into a leading hub for innovation and digital excellence. He also unveiled plans for a massive 15 million sq. ft. of state-of-the-art IT facilities to attract global companies, cementing Odisha’s position as a preferred IT destination.
Semiconductor Mission: A Milestone for Odisha
Vaishnaw outlined India’s ambitious Semiconductor Mission, highlighting Odisha’s strategic importance. “When the mission launched in 2022, skepticism abounded. Today, global confidence in India—and in Odisha as a critical semiconductor hub—has surged,” he said.
To enhance semiconductor education and innovation, the Minister announced the expansion of semiconductor programs to seven more universities in Odisha, in addition to the four already operational. Odisha’s talented engineers and students were recognized as key drivers for this initiative, capable of leading the mission from their home state.
AI Mission: Building the Future in Odisha
India’s advancements in Artificial Intelligence were also in focus, with Vaishnaw announcing plans to establish an AI Compute Facility and Data Center in Odisha. He emphasized India’s efforts to develop its own Large Language Model (LLM) and noted Odisha’s potential to become a hub for AI research and development.
The Minister highlighted the country’s growing AI compute ecosystem, which has attracted bids to create 18,000 GPUs, signaling immense opportunities for investors and innovators.
Empowering Talent: A National Priority
Vaishnaw stressed the government’s commitment to talent development through initiatives like 5G labs and access to cutting-edge Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools in universities. Odisha’s institutions, he noted, are already leading this transformation, preparing the next generation of innovators.
Massive Investments Across Sectors
Beyond IT, Vaishnaw reiterated the central government’s significant investments in Odisha:
- ₹73,000 crore in the railway sector to improve connectivity and infrastructure.
- ₹5,033 crore in telecom to enhance digital accessibility.
- ₹7,000 crore in IT to position Odisha as a global technology hub.
A Global Platform for Odisha
Vaishnaw lauded the Utkarsh Odisha initiative for positioning the state on the global map. “With robust infrastructure, strategic investments, and immense talent, Odisha is poised to lead India’s technological revolution,” he affirmed.
The Make in Odisha Conclave 2025 continues to spotlight the state’s potential across sectors, with announcements like these underscoring Odisha’s emergence as a leader in technology, innovation, and economic development.
