Odisha is set to enter the global FinTech arena with the launch of the country’s first Integrated Global Financial Technology Capability Hub (I-GFTCH) in Bhubaneswar on August 21.
The initiative, jointly developed with the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN) and the Asian Institute of Digital Finance at the National University of Singapore (NUS-AIDF), is aimed at reshaping the state’s digital economy and talent ecosystem.
The I-GFTCH will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and is expected to be a cornerstone of Odisha’s long-term economic and technological roadmap, reported The New Indian Express.
The hub is designed to train over 7,000 graduates in FinTech and InsurTech over the next five years, in line with meeting global workforce demands and facilitating high-skill employment in emerging financial technologies.
Educational Hub
The I-GFTCH’s professional certification programme, set to begin in September, is tailored for final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The five-month hybrid course will consist of 60 per cent online learning, two weeks of in-person training in Bhubaneswar, and an internship. Candidates will be selected via an online test and awarded a certificate from NUS-AIDF upon successful completion.
The programme covers core areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, governance, insurance, and finance. It also includes hands-on projects and is projected to generate around 2,000 direct job opportunities over five years through skill development and employment linkages.
More Than Just Skilling
Beyond training, I-GFTCH will house a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for digital innovation and business acceleration. The CoE will support startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through incubation, mentoring, bootcamps, market readiness sessions, and venture development assistance.
With an estimated direct value creation of Rs 299 crore and a projected indirect economic impact of Rs 898 crore over five years, the hub is expected to act as a multiplier for service exports, employment, and sector-wide innovation.