BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday unveiled the country’s first integrated global financial technology capability hub (I-GFTCH) as part of the BharatNetra initiative in the city.
Launched in collaboration with Singapore-headquartered Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN), the initiative positions Bhubaneswar as a rising nerve centre in India’s evolving innovation ecosystem, which will promote entrepreneurship, industry ready skills and inclusive finance, generating employment.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said I-GFTCH is a leap forward in the state’s vision to emerge as a global hub for FinTech. “The initiative will also help strengthen the country’s global leadership in the fast growing digital economy. It reflects our commitment to bring the best of the world to Odisha, and take Odisha to the world. The state has taken steps for establishing the Deep Neural Network laboratory and other centres of excellence to boost R&D,” he said.
With a strong network of tech institutes and World Skill Centre (WSC), Majhi said, the state has a strong talent pool and produces 1.8 lakh graduates annually. “The semiconductor projects approved recently will create thousands of jobs. Our goal is to place Odisha among the top five Indian states in per capita income. As we contribute to the Viksit Bharat-2047 mission, Odisha will play a central role in making India a global economic leader,” he said.
Stating that Odisha is the first state to formulate an AI policy, the CM informed, a dedicated FinTech policy and GCC policy will be launched soon to attract global investments. This is in line with the vision of the Prime Minister to upskill three crore youth of the country with an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore. Odisha is ready to contribute to this grand vision, he added.
Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said BharatNetra is a nation-building mission. “We are laying the foundation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision Viksit Bharat@2047 by skilling and educating our youth and creating a globally-connected FinTech and InsurTech hub in Odisha,” he said.
Pradhan said the initiative will ensure that students from Odisha can open pathways for employment and entrepreneurship, and take leadership in financial inclusion and innovation. ”Employability is no longer just about degrees, it is about readiness to thrive in fast-changing industries. This effort is a part of our vision to make Odisha, a $500 billion economy by 2036 and India, a $30 trillion economy by 2047,” he said.
The I-GFTCH will be implemented through a globally-integrated four-pillar strategy designed to build world-class fintech capabilities. Odisha has partnered with Asian Institute of Digital Finance, National University of Singapore and GFTN to launch a certificate course in FinTech and InsurTech (CFI), a five-month hybrid programme combining course-work, in-person sessions in Bhubaneswar, projects and internships.
Group CEO of GFTN Sopnendu Mohanty said BharatNetra is a shining example of how a strategic vision can translate into transformative action. “It is yet another step forward in advancing Singapore-India bilateral ties. It will open access for local talent to global markets and foster cutting-edge innovation by building a robust startup ecosystem. With the certificate course we are building a bridge between Odisha’s rich heritage and its digital future,” he said.
The programme will train 7,000 students over five years in technology, regulation and business, building a future-ready workforce for FinTech and InsurTech. Supported by the Skill Development Institute, with a view to national accreditation, the programme has already selected its first batch of 375 students from more than 3,800 applicants representing over 60 colleges across all districts of Odisha. The first batch starting September is set to graduate by January 2026.
MD and CEO of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and chairman of General Insurance Council Tapan Singhel said employability is not defined by degrees alone for India’s youth. It is about the ability to adapt and succeed in fast evolving industries. BharatNetra will play a pivotal role in bridging this gap by embedding real world industry requirements into the learning journey, he maintained.
Electronics and IT minister Mukesh Mahaling, Higher Education minister Suryavanshi Suraj, principal secretary of Electronics and IT Vishal Dev, Higher Education secretary Aravind Agrawal also spoke among others.