Sam Pitroda is technology advisor for Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Sam Pitroda, former chairman of the National Knowledge Commission and ex-adviser to the Prime Minister has given his nod to be technology advisor of Odisha.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday informed about this in a tweet.

Delighted to have @sampitroda as Technology Advisor for Odisha. #Vision2036 getting shape…#Odisha100 on the move.

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) January 6, 2016

The Odisha government had proposed to rope in telecom czar Sam Pitroda as a technology advisor for the development of telecom, electronics, IT (information technology) and ITes (enabled services) sectors in the state.

Considering his immense contribution to the development of telecommunication and technology in the country for nearly a decade in the 1980s, Pitroda may advise the state in creating the infrastructure in the IT, ITes and telecom sectors.

The founder and first Chairman of India’s Telecom Commission is also expected to leverage his experience and contact base to attract investments to Odisha, said sources.

Notably, the state government is putting importance in attracting investment in IT sector to the state.

It has targeted to spend over Rs. 4,000 crores on the IT and IT-enabled services sector in next five years to create more than one lakh jobs. It would spend towards IT, ITES and ESDM (Electronic Systems Design and Manufacturing).