Bhubaneswar: Odisha govt on Friday signed two memoranda of understanding with HCLTech for investments exceeding Rs 15,000 crore in the state, including an AI Data Centre and an AI and Digital Engineering Global Delivery Centre.According to official sources, HCLTech will establish its first AI Data Centre in Odisha at the Sovereign AI Park in partnership with Sarvam AI. The project, estimated at around Rs 14,257 crore.The proposed AI Data Centre will offer secure, scalable and inclusive digital infrastructure for the govt, research institutions, startups and enterprises. Officials said the project marks HCLTech’s entry into Odisha and its first investment in an AI Data Centre in India.CM Mohan Charan Majhi, who attended the MoU signing ceremony, said the investment was a major boost for the state’s technology sector. He said the agreements with HCLTech were another step towards positioning Odisha as a leading technology and innovation hub.Majhi said the investments were the outcome of the state govt’s focused outreach during Utkarsh Odisha, the Make in Odisha conclave. He added that HCLTech will also set up a Global Delivery Centre in Bhubaneswar in two phases with an investment of over Rs 730 crore.The proposed centre is expected to generate around 6,000 high-skilled direct jobs, besides creating several indirect employment opportunities across the technology and innovation ecosystem. It will serve as a hub for digital transformation services and is expected to strengthen Odisha’s appeal as a destination for global capability centres, digital exports and AI-enabled services.Majhi said the partnership would help reinforce Odisha’s position as one of India’s emerging centres for technology, innovation and the knowledge economy. He also highlighted the state’s investor-friendly environment and said Odisha was prepared to support large-scale investments such as the HCLTech partnership.HCLTech chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra said the company has been at the forefront of India’s technology sector. She said that, in line with the Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, HCLTech aims to support India’s sovereign AI ecosystem through focused investments, partnerships and offerings across the value chain. She said the company was pleased to begin the initiative in partnership with the Odisha govt and Sarvam AI.Electronics and IT minister Mukesh Mahaling, additional chief secretary Vishal Kumar Dev, senior representatives of HCLTech and Sarvam AI, and senior state govt officials were present at the ceremony.
