By Brahmipriya Samantray

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Bhubaneswar, 26.02.2016: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), has decided to confer award to outstanding Start-ups in the state in the IT and ITES sector every year.

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This is an unique initiative of Nalco, where a state-level award carrying a purse of Rs.1 lakh and a citation, will be handed over to the awardee during NALCO’s Foundation Day celebration. Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO made this announcement while addressing the second edition of Advantage Odisha, the Business-Technology-Leadership Conference here.

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The conference was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.

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“Odisha has emerged as a leading state in the ongoing change process. World Bank Report has identified Odisha as an ‘Aspiring Leader’ in terms of ‘Ease-of-doing- Business’ in India. In this context, there is a great need to further this growth trajectory through concerted efforts from all sectors. In this regard, the role of IT & ITES Sector is very significant,” Dr. Chand said.

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“Moreover, the entire Odisha is home to more than 450 engineering and management colleges, including diploma & ITI institutes, to source skilled manpower. At the same time, Bhubaneswar has topped the ‘Smart City’ list. This has become an added advantage,” he said.

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“The Railway Budget 2016 this time has enhanced budget allocation to Odisha by 30% than the previous fiscal, which would definitely prove instrumental in the future growth plans of the State, creating a favourable climate for industrialization and entrepreneurship,” Dr. Chand added.