Odisha IT Policy 2025: Bhubaneswar to become Fintech City, 8 tier-II digital hubs, semiconductors & data centres.
OdishaPlus Bureau
Recognizing the information technology (IT) sector as a key factor in Odisha’s ambition to become a developed State by 2036, the state government is focused on transforming Bhubaneswar into a Fintech City while also promoting IT development beyond the capital. The initiative encompasses the establishment of eight new digital hubs in tier-II cities, the creation of semiconductor and electronics manufacturing clusters, and the development of the coastal region into a data centre powerhouse.
Additionally, the Odisha Digital Economy Mission is progressing with a comprehensive plan aimed at attracting over Rs 16.73 lakh crore in investments for digital infrastructure.
As part of this strategy, the state intends to create eight specialized digital and technology hubs to alleviate the concentration of IT opportunities in the capital city.
Cities and areas such as Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur-Jharsuguda, Berhampur, Jajpur, Balasore-Bhadrak, Puri-Konark, and Paradip-Dhamra-Gopalpur will be developed as centers for LegalTech, data centers, electronics assembly, semiconductors, digital logistics, defense technology, smart manufacturing, IoT, TourismTech, and hardware exports. Among the key initiatives, Bhubaneswar is set to be developed into a dedicated Fintech City, envisioned as the FinTech and InsurTech hub of eastern India.
The government has already partnered with the Singapore-based Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) to cultivate talent, enhance digital public infrastructure, and foster innovation in financial technologies. Principal Secretary of the Electronics and IT department, Vishal Kumar Dev, stated that this initiative is anticipated to generate over 50,000 high-paying jobs and reshape the state’s role in the financial innovation sector, in addition to producing an annual gross value added (GVA) of Rs 40,000 crore by 2036.
These tier-II cities and coastal areas are being developed as next-generation growth hubs, equipped with robust infrastructure and skill development pathways, he stated.
The government has also outlined plans to establish five world-class global capability centres (GCC) hubs, commencing with the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack-Puri region and the Rourkela-Jharsuguda-Sambalpur corridor, aimed at supporting the metal, mining, manufacturing, and other essential sectors.
These hubs are anticipated to draw in over 100 mid-sized GCCs in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and mining industries.
Odisha is also preparing to emerge as a tier-IV data centre hub, with an undersea cable landing station being developed in Puri, which will greatly improve the state’s global connectivity.
Prominent companies, including Adani, CtrlS, Zoho, YOTTA, and the Reserve Bank of India, have also pledged their involvement in data centre initiatives. In the realm of electronics manufacturing, the state intends to operationalize three world-class electronics manufacturing clusters (EMCs) with port-linked infrastructure to attract global anchor units and foster green electronics, semiconductor packaging, and design startups.
A semiconductor-ready ecosystem concentrating on OSAT/ATMP units and fabless design firms will also be established in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Paradip.
Describing it as the most extensive digital initiative in the state’s history, Dev stated that there is a strong focus on enhancing IT exports, establishing world-class technology parks, and equipping the youth with skills for emerging sectors.
“The state government intends to contribute Rs 60,000 crore annually to its Gross State Value Added (GSVA) through IT services. Over the next ten years, more than two hundred thousand jobs are anticipated to be generated as the state implements its new IT Policy 2025, constructs IT parks in public-private partnership (PPP) mode, and broadens cloud and cybersecurity training for one hundred thousand young individuals,” he remarked.
Industry specialists noted that Odisha is progressing towards becoming competitive with the leading digital states, thanks to a renewed emphasis on the IT and electronics industry. “However, to be on par with Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, the state must prioritize enhancing its digital infrastructure, developing chip design ecosystems, and nurturing enterprise technology talent. In addition to constructing IT towers, the government should ensure the availability of litigation-free land to attract international investments,” they advised.
The principal secretary emphasized that the objective is not merely to create infrastructure but to firmly establish Odisha on the global digital landscape. The upcoming decade is expected to be transformative for Odisha, and the government has articulated its vision to position the state as a prominent technology hub in the nation, he concluded.
Describing it as the most extensive digital initiative in the state’s history, Dev stated that there is a strong focus on enhancing IT exports, establishing world-class technology parks, and equipping the youth with skills for emerging sectors.
“The state government intends to contribute Rs 60,000 crore annually to its Gross State Value Added (GSVA) through IT services. Over the next ten years, more than two hundred thousand jobs are anticipated to be generated as the state implements its new IT Policy 2025, constructs IT parks in public-private partnership (PPP) mode, and broadens cloud and cybersecurity training for one hundred thousand young individuals,” he remarked.
Industry specialists noted that Odisha is progressing towards becoming competitive with the leading digital states, thanks to a renewed emphasis on the IT and electronics industry. “However, to be on par with Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Telangana, the state must prioritize enhancing its digital infrastructure, developing chip design ecosystems, and nurturing enterprise technology talent. In addition to constructing IT towers, the government should ensure the availability of litigation-free land to attract international investments,” they advised.
The principal secretary emphasized that the objective is not merely to create infrastructure but to firmly establish Odisha on the global digital landscape. The upcoming decade is expected to be transformative for Odisha, and the government has articulated its vision to position the state as a prominent technology hub in the nation, he concluded.