BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday said that the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with globally renowned HCLTech and India's indigenous artificial intelligence company Sarvam AI marks the beginning of a new revolution in Odisha's industry and technology sectors.
The landmark MOUs were signed in the presence of CM Majhi at the Convention Centre of Lok Seva Bhawan here on Friday.
He said the initiatives would significantly strengthen Odisha's technology-driven economic growth while creating direct employment opportunities for thousands of highly educated and skilled young men and women in the state. Under the historic partnership, HCLTech will establish its Global Delivery Centre in Odisha, a move expected to give the state's IT ecosystem a strong global identity.
In addition, HCLTech, in collaboration with Sarvam AI, will set up an AI-optimised Data Centre in the state. The Odisha government will also establish a sovereign, fully indigenous AI Park, within which the proposed data centre will be located.
The proposed HCLTech Global Delivery Centre will involve an investment of around Rs 730 crore, significantly strengthening Odisha's digital ecosystem. The facility is expected to generate direct employment opportunities for more than 6,000 highly educated and skilled youth from the state.
Notably, the two projects are expected to attract investments of nearly Rs 15,000 crore over the next five years. Majhi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Digital India has transformed the country into a technology-ready nation, and that Odisha is now emerging as a frontrunner in driving this wave of innovation.
"Earlier, we were dependent on foreign AI platforms, but today our indigenous AI platform, Sarvam, has become capable of matching any technology in the world. In the coming days, it will be extensively used in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, education and defence,” said Majhi.
He further added that over the past two years, the state government has not confined itself only to mineral-centric industries but has also been promoting emerging sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), textiles, pharmaceuticals and information technology (IT).
Notably, Sarvam AI has successfully developed AI platforms and applications in Odia as well as other major Indian languages.
With the establishment of the AI Park and AI-optimised Data Centre in Odisha, artificial intelligence services in Odia and several other Indian languages will be developed and delivered from the state itself.
The Chief Minister said the state's new Industrial Policy, single-window clearance mechanism and land bank system have reduced the MoU-to-project commencement timeline to under 100 days.
Assuring HCLTech, Sarvam AI and all investors of full government support, he said Odisha is ready for large-scale investments, saying, "Yahi Samay Hai, Sahi Samay Hai" ("This is the right time") to invest in the state.
--IANS
