Naveen Govt plans to make Odisha an IT hub by 2020

Culture and Tourism minister Ashok Panda on Tuesday said in the Assembly that the state government has planned to make Odisha an IT hub by 2020 and accordingly plan is on afoot for establishment of six software technology parks in Odisha.

While answering a question by Congress MLA Naba Das during Question Hour, Panda said the Naveen Government’s lofty ambition towards IT sector in the state.

Das wanted to know the number of Odias employed in IT firms based in the state. Responding to it, Panda said there are 108 software companies in the State. As many as 13,344 people are working in these companies, out of which 9849 are Odias. Odisha is ranked at tenth spot in the country in IT sector, said Panda.

There are four IT parks in the state right now in Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Berhamapur and Balasore. Notably, IT Minister Pranab Das had announced the setting up of six more IT parks at Jeypore, Sambalpur, Jajpur, Angul, Rayagada and Bhawanipatna on September 30, 2014. The centre had also accorded in-principle approval for setting up these parks in Odisha.