Fri Mar 21 16:45:58 UTC 2025: ## Madurai Tech Conclave Highlights India’s AI Ambitions and Growing Digital Economy

**Madurai, India – March 22, 2025** – India is aggressively pursuing its goal of becoming a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI), according to S. Krishnan, secretary of the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Speaking at the SIDA Synergy 2025 Technology Conclave in Madurai on Friday, Krishnan emphasized the nation’s commitment to building an AI-ready workforce and expanding its digital economy beyond major metropolitan areas.

Krishnan highlighted the government’s initiative to establish Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and encouraged Madurai’s industries to leverage this infrastructure. He cited a study showing that India’s digital economy, which constituted 7% of the GDP a decade ago, has grown to 13% and is projected to reach 20% by the end of the decade. The next step, he said, is retraining the existing IT workforce in AI, cybersecurity, and blockchain. A separate study already ranks India as having the world’s best-prepared AI workforce.

Ewout de Wit, Consul-General of the Netherlands, also addressed the conclave, emphasizing the strengthening Indo-Dutch relations under the ‘WAH!’ agenda (Water, Agriculture, and Health), with cybersecurity and semiconductors now included in the strategic partnership. He praised Madurai’s contribution to India’s innovation ecosystem.

The SIDA Synergy 2025 conclave, themed “Techpreneurs: Expand Beyond Borders,” celebrated SIDA’s 15th anniversary and focused on fostering regional tech entrepreneurship and positioning Madurai as a significant innovation hub. The event brought together numerous industry leaders and government officials.

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