New Delhi, October 10, 2025: As part of its commitment to align with India’s Digital Transformation Vision, the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), Govt. of Goa, held a press conference at the Press Club of India, New Delhi, on October 9, 2025.
The press conference was addressed by key dignitaries, including Shri Rohan A. Khaunte, Hon’ble Minister of ITE&C, Tourism and Printing & Stationery; Shri Sanjeev Ahuja, IAS, Secretary, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications; Tourism and Printing & Stationery; Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of DITE&C; Shri Kedar Naik, Director of Tourism; Shri Neville Noronha, OSD to the Minister of IT and Shri Shawn Mendes, OSD to Minister of Tourism.
Addressing the press, Hon’ble Minister Shri Rohan Khaunte emphasised on Goa’s strategic alignment with national initiatives such as Digital India, India AI Mission, Make in India and Startup India.
“We are focused on making an impact on three dimensions: making Goa India’s Design and Creative Capital, attracting global businesses and startups, and building digital infrastructure for citizens. We truly believe that Goa makes for the perfect model State for piloting India’s next-gen governance and innovation programs,” the Minister stated, adding this vision positions Goa not just as a creative hub, but as a launchpad for scalable, future-ready solutions.
Driven by cutting-edge technology and backed by innovative initiatives, Goa is fast emerging as India’s Design and Creative Capital. First Fridays, a monthly meetup, brings together Goa’s creative community for networking, learning and inspiration. Plans are also underway for a Creative Community Portal and Design Village, India’s first dedicated creative-tech campus.
From Quidich Innovation Labs’ AI-powered drone cinematography to Maker’s Asylum’s global open-source design work, Goa is fostering a thriving ecosystem. With India’s first commercial 3D printer by Nirmitsu and a government-run 3D prototyping facility, the State is becoming a hub for next-gen manufacturing and creative engineering.
Furthermore, Goa has developed a Greenfield Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) in Tuem, Pernem focused on semiconductors, aerospace, drones, and cleantech. With 97% core infrastructure complete, the EMC has attracted key investors like Zen Technologies and Kineco Ltd. The EMC is targeting the creation of 5,000 direct jobs.
Speaking about how Goa is actively shaping the future through strategic integration of artificial intelligence, Shri Kabir Shirgaonkar, Director of DITE&C explained the visionary Goa AI Mission 2027.
Goa is investing in skills, startups and infrastructure to create a strong AI ecosystem. Goa will further advance its AI initiatives by hosting a national AI hackathon, setting up dedicated AI labs and implementing AI-powered chatbots.
Goa has significantly advanced its digital governance and connectivity footprint. Key to this transformation is the Goa Online platform, a single-window digital interface developed by DITE&C, which currently offers citizens access to over 240 government services and has registered over 8.74 lakh users, thereby minimizing the need for physical visits to government offices. This is complemented by the State’s extensive network of 550 registered Common Service Centers (CSCs), covering 191 village panchayats and ensuring essential public utility services reach the grassroots level through Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs).
Furthermore, Goa has integrated with national initiatives, successfully enabling access to 70 services via DigiLocker and incorporating services on the UMANG platform.
On the infrastructure front, the State’s high-speed backbone, the Goa Broadband Network (GBBN), operating under a PPP model, has established 414 Points of Presence (PoPs), including 225 Government buildings and 189 village gram panchayats, with connectivity extending to over 1,500 government and educational institutions.
Additionally, efforts to enhance public access include the operationalization of 23 4G towers out of 66 identified locations, and the provision of free Wi-Fi in public spaces at 150 identified locations, which offers a dedicated bandwidth of 30 Mbps.
Through the Goa Startup Policy 2025 and initiatives like the Goa Open Innovation Challenge and Market Access Expo, the State is nurturing innovation. Currently the State boasts of 700 DPIIT-registered startups, including 332 ventures led by women.
Supporting the remote work revolution, Goa is also developing a Workation and Digital Nomad Ecosystem with over 130 public Wi-Fi hotspots, co-working spaces and an upcoming Digital Nomad Visa with a one-stop portal for remote professionals. The session highlighted key reasons IT professionals are increasingly choosing Goa.
With these ground-breaking initiatives and more on the horizon, Goa is powering an inclusive digital transformation, one where every citizen is empowered.