Panaji, October 22: Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant inaugurated the Goa AI Tech Conclave 2026 at INOX, Panaji, marking a significant step towards transforming Goa into an artificial intelligence-driven state with a strong focus on education, innovation, governance and sustainable development.

The conclave witnessed the launch of the Goa AI Policy, Goa AI Hackathon and Bhashini Large Language Model (LLM), along with the announcement of an AI Centre of Excellence through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between BITS Pilani and the Directorate of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications.

The event was attended by IT Minister Rohan Khaunte, ITG Chairman Chandrakant Shetye and other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sawant congratulated IT Minister Rohan Khaunte and his team for translating Goa’s artificial intelligence vision from policy into action.

He stressed the need for close coordination between the Information Technology and Education Departments to transform educational institutions into AI learning laboratories, strengthen technical skills and build the capacity of students to meet emerging employment opportunities.

The Chief Minister emphasised that Goa’s youth must be equipped with advanced technological skills to compete in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

Highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence in governance, Sawant said AI could significantly improve public service delivery, empower local communities and promote sustainable development.

He underlined that the government’s objective was to ensure that technological advancements benefit ordinary citizens while protecting the environment and promoting inclusive economic progress.

The conclave also featured the presentation of the Living Library of Goa Rural AI report by Hyprloc, experiences shared by AI trainees and the felicitation of women trained in drone technology, popularly known as Drone Didis.

The Chief Minister said these initiatives demonstrated how emerging technologies could create opportunities for women, rural communities and young professionals.

With the Goa AI Policy and the proposed Centre of Excellence, the state government aims to develop an ecosystem connecting academic institutions, technology experts and government departments.

The conclave, organised under the theme “AI for People, Planet and Progress,” highlighted the government’s vision of building an AI-ready Goa through technological innovation, youth empowerment and improved governance.

The effectiveness of these initiatives will ultimately depend on their implementation, accessibility to students and rural communities, and ability to generate meaningful employment opportunities for Goan youth.