Bhubaneswar, Oct 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has envisioned a new phase of economic growth for Odisha, saying the state is poised to move beyond its traditional mineral-based industries and emerge as a destination for advanced technology, semiconductors, electronics and computing.
Addressing a programme in Bhubaneswar following the inauguration of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute, Modi said emerging technology sectors would create fresh opportunities for Odisha’s youth and contribute to the country’s broader development ambitions.
Emphasising the state’s changing economic landscape, the Prime Minister described Odisha’s future as one that would progress “from mines to microchips”, reflecting a shift towards technology-driven industries alongside its established strengths in mineral resources.
“I assure the young friends of Odisha that the big dreams you have envisioned will surely come true. We will do it,” Modi said, expressing confidence in the state’s development potential.
Technology to Open New Avenues for Odisha’s Youth
Highlighting Odisha’s industrial prospects, Modi said the state was witnessing opportunities across traditional industries and emerging technology sectors. While mineral resources continue to underpin its industrial economy, investments in semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, data centres and advanced computing could broaden its economic base.
The Prime Minister said these developments would create new avenues for employment, investment and skill development, enabling young people to participate in industries that are increasingly shaping the global economy.
He also underscored the growing importance of eastern India in the vision of a developed India, positioning the region as an emerging contributor to the country’s economic expansion.
Referring to the change in government in Odisha, Modi said the state’s development journey had gained fresh momentum, with technology and industrial growth expected to play an increasingly important role.
RBI Facilities to Strengthen Digital Infrastructure
The inauguration of the RBI’s Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute was highlighted as a key step towards strengthening India’s financial technology infrastructure.
Modi stressed that protecting digital systems had become increasingly important as banking and financial services continued to expand through online platforms. He underlined the need for modern infrastructure, robust cybersecurity measures and skilled professionals to safeguard the country’s financial ecosystem against evolving cyber threats.
The new facilities are expected to support the security and resilience of banking operations while strengthening the technological capabilities required to manage India’s growing digital financial activity.
The Prime Minister’s emphasis on cybersecurity also reflects the broader need to ensure that technological advancement is accompanied by reliable systems and effective protection against cybercrime.
Development Must Reach Villages and Smaller Towns
Modi also reiterated that the benefits of economic growth and technological progress must extend beyond major urban centres to villages and smaller towns.
He highlighted digital connectivity, improved healthcare infrastructure and wider access to banking services as important elements of inclusive development, stressing that the country’s progress should create opportunities for people across different regions.
The Prime Minister said the next decade would place greater emphasis on making banking services more efficient and reliable, building on the expansion of financial access achieved over the previous decade.
Odisha’s Ambition Beyond Mineral Wealth
Odisha’s established strengths in mining and mineral-based industries provide a foundation for its industrial economy. The push towards electronics, semiconductors and advanced computing signals an ambition to diversify that foundation and participate in higher-value technology sectors.
For the state’s young population, the emerging opportunities could translate into new career pathways in engineering, digital infrastructure, electronics manufacturing and cybersecurity, provided investment is matched by skills development and employment creation.
Concluding his address, Modi congratulated the RBI and those associated with the newly inaugurated facilities, expressing confidence in Odisha’s future and the aspirations of its youth.
The vision of moving “from mines to microchips” captures the state’s ambition to combine its resource-based industrial strengths with the opportunities offered by the digital and technology-driven economy.