Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Friday declared the dawn of a new tech revolution in Odisha, following the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with global IT major HCLTech and indigenous AI startup Sarvam AI at the Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhavan here.
Under this partnership, HCLTech will set up its Global Delivery Centre in the state with an initial investment of ₹730 crore, bolstering Odisha’s digital ecosystem and creating over 6,000 direct jobs for highly educated and skilled local youth. Additionally, HCLTech and Sarvam AI will jointly establish an AI-optimized Data Centre inside a state-backed Sovereign AI Park in Odisha. Over the next five years, the combined investment across these initiatives is projected to reach ₹15,000 crore.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Majhi said the state aims to reach the top three positions in the NITI Aayog’s Investment Friendliness Index. He highlighted that indigenous systems like Sarvam AI now rival global technologies. In the coming days, these technologies will be extensively deployed across key sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, and defence, he noted.
The Chief Minister emphasised that over the past two years, the state government has expanded its focus beyond mineral-centric industries to actively encourage emerging sectors such as semiconductors, AI, textiles, pharma, and IT. Highlighting industrial progress, he stated that Odisha has received over ₹20 lakh crore in investment proposals, with project approvals exceeding ₹10 lakh crore and projects worth over ₹3 lakh crore already being implemented on the ground.
Majhi further stated that reforms such as the new industrial policy, single-window clearance, and land bank system have reduced the time from agreement signing to project commencement to less than 100 days. He assured HCLTech, Sarvam AI, and all investors of full government support, urging them with the words: “Yahi samay hai, sahi samay hai” (This is the time, the right time).
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Digital India vision for making India tech-ready, with Odisha now taking a leading role in this transformation.
Electronics and Information Technology Minister Mukesh Mahaling termed the event a proud moment for the state, marking a new milestone in Odisha’s electronics and IT sector. Expressing gratitude to HCLTech for placing its trust in Odisha, he noted that according to recent assessments, the state stands third in the country for investment friendliness and has already established a distinct identity in the semiconductor sector.
HCL Chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra expressed full readiness to invest in Odisha. She thanked the state government and said the company is inspired by the blessings of Lord Jagannath and the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Majhi. She highlighted the success of the recent AI Summit in Odisha as proof of the state’s readiness for artificial intelligence initiatives. She also announced the establishment of a dedicated AI Park in Odisha, describing it as a major milestone in the state’s AI journey.
Sarvam AI has successfully developed AI platforms and applications in Odia and all major Indian languages. The upcoming AI Park and Data Centre in Odisha will enable AI services in Odia and other Indian languages to be delivered from the state itself.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev, HCLTech CEO and Managing Director C Vijayakumar, Sarvam AI CEO Pratyush Kumar, senior government officials, and prominent figures from industry and academia.
