Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi launched the BharatNetra Initiative, an Integrated Global Financial Technology Capability Hub (I-GFTCH), in Bhubaneswar today at a grand event held at Mayfair.
The initiative, a collaboration with the Singapore-based Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Asian Institute of Digital Finance (NUS-AIDF), aims to position Odisha as a global hub for financial technology (FinTech) and insurance technology (InsurTech) innovation.
The launch event was graced by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha Electronics and IT Minister Mukesh Mahaling, and GFTN Group CEO Sopnendu Mohanty. Describing BharatNetra as a transformative step, CM Majhi emphasised its role in strengthening India’s digital economy leadership, with Odisha at its core. “This initiative will skill over 7,000 students across Odisha’s 30 districts, equipping them with expertise in blockchain, AI-in-finance, and InsurTech, while fostering startups and attracting global investments,” he said.
The BharatNetra Initiative, sparked during the January 2025 visit of Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, is built on four pillars: Global Learning, Global Mindshare, Global Innovation, and Global Capability Hub. The Global Learning pillar offers a five-month hybrid certification program by NUS-AIDF, with the first batch of 375 students from over 3,800 applicants already selected, set to graduate by January 2026. The program targets final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, combining online learning, two weeks of in-person training in Bhubaneswar, and internships to prepare them for global FinTech careers.
To support entrepreneurship, a Centre of Excellence (CoE) will provide incubation, mentorship, and venture development for startups and SMEs. A Global Capability Centre (GCC) will attract international financial institutions, boosting Odisha’s economic landscape with an estimated Rs 299 crore in direct value and Rs 898 crore in indirect economic impact over five years. Additionally, a cable landing station connecting Bhubaneswar to Singapore will enhance digital infrastructure, complementing Odisha’s pioneering AI Policy and upcoming FinTech and GCC policies.
CM Majhi highlighted Odisha’s robust talent pipeline, producing 1.8 lakh graduates annually in engineering, polytechnic, and IT, alongside skilled youth from 950 ITIs. He also announced the BharatNetra Hackathon and a GCC program to foster innovation. Odisha’s Deep Neural Network Laboratory and other CoEs aim to establish the state as the “Research Capital of the East.” The CM expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for approving two semiconductor fabrication units in Odisha, reinforcing the state’s role in India’s digital economy.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan lauded the initiative’s alignment with India’s goal of skilling 3 crore youth, stating, “BharatNetra will create pathways for employment and entrepreneurship, strengthening India’s leadership in financial inclusion.” Minister Mukesh Mahaling noted Odisha’s $23 billion in new investments this year, positioning the state as India’s innovation frontier. GFTN CEO Sopnendu Mohanty called BharatNetra a gateway to the Asia-Pacific FinTech corridor, connecting Odisha to global financial ecosystems.
The initiative is set to host the Black Swan Summit in early 2026, a global forum for AI, tokenisation, and digital infrastructure, further elevating Odisha’s global FinTech profile. With its focus on inclusive growth and cutting-edge skilling, BharatNetra marks a pivotal step toward making Bhubaneswar India’s FinTech capital.
