Bhubaneswar: The Government of Odisha on Saturday hosted a State Consultation Workshop on “Creating an Enabling Ecosystem for Services in Tier 2 and 3 Cities” here.
The workshop was hosted by Odisha Electronics and IT Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
The event saw participation from key figures including Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology S Krishnan, Development Commissioner-cum-ACS Anu Garg, Principal Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department Vishal Dev, as well as senior officials from 24 States and Union Territories across India.
The workshop centered on the initiatives that various States have undertaken in areas such as skilling, infrastructure development, Ease of Doing Business, and policy and regulatory reforms to nurture a strong services ecosystem.
Participants exchanged ideas on potential new initiatives that could further enhance the services ecosystem in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, focusing on sectors like IT, semiconductors, tourism, BFSI, civil aviation, logistics, and others.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja highlighted the importance of these discussions in closing the gap between Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. He reaffirmed Odisha’s commitment to fostering service-led growth across the state by building robust infrastructure, streamlining regulatory processes, and advancing skill development initiatives tailored to the unique needs of smaller cities.
Addressing the gathering, S Krishnan emphasized the workshop’s role as a platform for States to convey industry concerns to the Government of India and outline the reforms needed from the central government. He underlined the importance of collaboration between State and central entities in creating a conducive environment for the growth of the services sector. Krishnan also expressed gratitude to the Government of Odisha for hosting the workshop.
Development Commissioner-cum-ACS Anu Garg called for a collective approach to overcoming challenges such as talent acquisition, technological integration, and market access, which are crucial for unlocking the potential of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
Principal Secretary of the Electronics and Information Technology Department Vishal Dev delivered a detailed presentation on the steps Odisha has taken to build a supportive ecosystem for services within the State. He outlined key policy actions, infrastructure projects, and capacity-building efforts that have contributed to the growth of Odisha’s services sector and suggested further measures to accelerate this progress.
This workshop is part of a series of high-level discussions leading up to the 4th National Chief Secretaries’ Conference, scheduled for later this year. The conference will focus on the theme “Promoting Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Skilling – Leveraging the Demographic Dividend,” with a key focus on “Creating an Enabling Ecosystem for Services Innovation, Growth, and Capacity Building.”
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been designated as the nodal ministry for this initiative and is coordinating both virtual and in-person sessions with stakeholders to gather input and build consensus on strategic directions and policy measures needed to foster a dynamic services sector across India.
The Government of Odisha will continue to engage with MeitY, other States/UTs, and various stakeholders through multiple platforms, ensuring that the momentum generated by this workshop translates into actionable strategies that enhance the competitiveness of India’s services sector, particularly in the emerging hubs of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
