Jaipur, July 1 (IANS). Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday said Rajasthan is playing an important role in India’s digital transformation with investment proposals worth over Rs 43,000 crore received in the data center sector.
He further said that the government is committed to making Rajasthan the country’s preferred destination for investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centres.
Addressing industry leaders at a roundtable discussion organized after the 29th National Conference on e-Governance at the Rajasthan International Center (RIC), the Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state is strengthening its digital infrastructure to realize the vision of ‘Developed India-Developed Rajasthan 2047’.
He said that e-governance has significantly improved transparency in citizen-centric services, while also enabling quicker delivery of services, reducing both time and cost, improving records management and supporting evidence-based policy making.
Highlighting the state’s growing digital ecosystem, Chief Minister Sharma said that Rajasthan is now not only known for its tourism and heritage, but is also becoming a significant contributor to India’s digital future. There are more than 100 universities and about 4,000 colleges in the state, which he described as Rajasthan’s biggest strength.
He said the government’s iStart initiative has promoted over 8,700 startups, attracting investments of over Rs 1,000 crore and creating over 48,000 direct jobs.
The state also plans to strengthen collaboration between industry, startups, academia and the government through the proposed AI Center of Excellence.
The Chief Minister informed that STT GDC has set up an AI-ready data center in Jaipur, while several other companies including HG Akaya, Neo Bolt and Jtudium have proposed investment in Rajasthan.
The total cost of these proposals is more than Rs 43,000 crore, reflecting the industry’s growing confidence in the state’s digital infrastructure.
He said the government will support investors through availability of adequate land and power, single-window clearance system and industry-friendly policies.
Rajasthan is also developing progressive policies for emerging areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), data centres, global competence centers (GCC), drones and geospatial technology.
Sharma said Rajasthan’s abundant green energy, competitive operating costs and transparent governance make it an attractive investment destination.
To encourage startups, the government has removed key barriers, including mandatory prior experience and minimum turnover requirements in public procurement, making it easier for new enterprises to participate in government projects.
He invited entrepreneurs to look at Rajasthan not only as an attractive destination for investment but also as a long-term partner in research, innovation, job creation and development of future technologies.
–IANS
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