Odisha has thriving fintech ecosystem: IT Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Global Fintech Festival 2023 witnessed a compelling address by Odisha’s Electronics & IT Minister Tusharkanti Behera that shed light on the remarkable strides taken by the fintech sector.

The event, jointly organised by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the Payments Council of India (PCI), and the Fintech Convergence Council (FCC), convened on Wednesday in Mumbai.

The Global Fintech Festival 2023 serves as a vital forum for fintech leaders to cultivate partnerships and chart a course for the future of the industry. It is a platform that unites some of the brightest analytical minds in the fintech industry. Over the past three years, the Global Fintech Festival has played a pivotal role in showcasing the multifaceted fintech ecosystem’s transformative potential and its capacity to drive sustainable global progress.

Tusharkanti Behera underlined that India stands among the world’s fastest-growing fintech markets, rivalling the United Kingdom in funding volume. Highlighting Odisha’s participation in the fintech revolution, the Minister expressed the state’s commitment to innovation. Odisha has launched several citizen welfare schemes, leveraging technology for the delivery of public services and financial assistance, he shared.

The state’s financial inclusion has been recognised nationally and internationally for schemes like Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) and the Social Protection Delivery Platform (SPDP), which offer cashless, paperless, and faceless access to social benefits and services.

The Minister outlined Odisha’s efforts to create a conducive environment for fintech startups and businesses, offering incentives, promoting innovation, and attracting major players to the state. This commitment has already yielded promising results, with several fintech startups making a mark nationally.

Today, Odisha has a thriving fintech ecosystem, and a rapidly growing economy and the state’s strong focus on technology and innovation makes it an ideal destination for fintech ventures.

Manoj Kumar Mishra Principal Secretary E & IT, Manas Ranjan Panda, Special Secretary, E & IT also attended the program.