By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today launched the ‘Integrated Global Financial Technology Enablement Hub’ (I-GFTCH) – BharatNetra along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The programme, in collaboration with the state government’s Department of Electronics and IT and Singapore-based Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN), aims to transform Bhubaneswar into a global financial technology and insurtech innovation hub.
Shri Pradhan said that Bhubaneswar has a long tradition of knowledge. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a developed India by 2047. At this time, Odisha will complete 100 years of its formation as a separate province by 2036. Today’s initiative is another step towards empowering our youth and realizing the vision of a developed Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047 envisioned by Prime Minister Modi. The Integrated Global Financial Technology Enablement Hub will promote digital innovation and will not let the youth of Odisha miss out on the opportunities of the 21st century, especially in the field of FinTech. It will provide job opportunities to the youth in the fields of Insurtech, Digital Finance, AI, Blockchain and futuristic skills. I-GFTCH will work as a partner here in Bhubaneswar to provide global employment opportunities to the local youth. Shri Pradhan thanked the Chief Minister of Odisha for making Odisha a digital-urban economy.
In an interview held before the launch of the program, the Union Minister interacted with the Group CEO of Singapore GFTN, Shri Sopnendu Mohanty. Shri Pradhan expressed his views on the idea of implementing the Singapore model in Odisha and reshaping the future of the financial sector: a path to talent, technology and innovation. He said that while he was the Petroleum Minister, during his visit to Singapore, he visited various places like Jurong Island and the idea of implementing the Singapore model in Odisha came to his mind. Odisha has immense potential, natural resources, long beaches, forests, talented human resources. If technocrats like Sopnendu Mohanty, who graduated from FM College, are working in Singapore, then why not Odia children? Given the right opportunity, Odia children can achieve anything. An ecosystem like Singapore’s should be created to utilize the young talent of Odisha in particular.
Shri Pradhan said that technologies like AI have changed the way we live. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that skills should be given priority over degrees. The new National Education Policy gives priority to providing skill-based education. While the enrolment rate in higher education has increased, the government has set a target of increasing the enrolment rate in higher education to 50 percent by 2030. The Government of India, educational institutions and industry need to work together to build an architect of skill development and promote the entrepreneurial tradition. Due to the continuous efforts of Prime Minister Modi, innovation has become a brand. We are focusing on skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling students. We need to create an employment-based ecosystem for the youth of the state by promoting startups.
He urged the people of Odisha to be resourceful and daring. He said that India, including Odisha, is a naturally entrepreneurial society. Innovation and entrepreneurship are in the DNA of our children. Shri Pradhan expressed his views on the need for the youth to be employers rather than seeking employment.
In this interview, the Union Minister discussed the drone technology developed by Odia children, Got Bank, the unprecedented success of students in STEM education, and the efforts to bring the products produced by Odisha’s mother power to the global market through technologies like Blink It. He also spoke about the bravery of Odisha and the story of our innovation, the Kalinga War and Baji Rout. Odisha is a land of possibilities and unlimited talent. Shri Pradhan invited and welcomed investors to invest in Odisha.
The GCC Plus Overall program was launched on this occasion along with the launch of the Bharatnetra Hackathon website. State Health, Electronics and IT Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling, Higher Education Minister Suryavanshi Suraj, and Singapore GFTN CEO Shri Sopnendu Mohanty were prominent participants in the program.
