Bhubaneswar, Odisha : Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi today inaugurated the BharatNetra initiative, an Integrated Global Financial Technology Capability Hub, positioning Odisha as a leading FinTech hub in India. The event was held at Mayfair, Bhubaneswar, with Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Electronics & IT Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, and GFTN CEO Shri Sopnendu Mohanty in attendance.
Terming the initiative as transformative, CM Majhi highlighted that it will skill over 7,000 students across Odisha in finance technology, AI-in-finance, blockchain, and insurance tech. Certification programs are designed by the Asian Institute of Digital Finance, National University of Singapore.
The CM announced plans for a dedicated Centre of Excellence within the hub to nurture startups and entrepreneurs. Additionally, a Global Capability Centre (GCC) will attract global financial institutions and investment to Odisha. A ‘cable landing station’ connecting Bhubaneswar to Singapore is also underway to strengthen digital infrastructure.
CM Majhi stated that Odisha will soon launch a FinTech Policy and GCC Policy to boost global investments. He emphasized that this initiative aligns with PM Narendra Modi’s vision of skilling 3 crore youth nationwide, contributing to India’s leadership in the digital economy.
Odisha produces approximately 1.8 lakh engineering, IT, and polytechnic graduates annually, along with skilled youth from 950 ITIs, creating one of the strongest talent pipelines in the country. The state has also established a Deep Neural Network Laboratory and other centers to make Odisha the “Research Capital of the East.”
Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said the initiative strengthens India’s global digital economy leadership, while Odisha Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling emphasized the state’s emergence as an innovation frontier with over $23 billion in investments this year. GFTN CEO Shri Sopnendu Mohanty noted that BharatNetra connects Odisha to the Asia-Pacific innovation corridor, fostering talent and innovation.
The first batch of 375 students, selected from over 3,800 applicants across 60+ colleges in Odisha, will graduate by January 2026. The initiative focuses on Global Learning, Global Mindshare, Global Innovation, and Global Capability Hub, setting Odisha on a path to becoming a global FinTech hub.
