Award winner Odisha a fastest going state in startup sector:

Odisha, that has emerged as one of the second best performers in state startup ranking this year, is one of the fastest going states in this sector, a senior official said on Thursday.

The department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), under the Ministry of announced in New Delhi that Odisha, along with four other states, has been adjudged a Top Performer, behind Gujarat which clinched the Best Performer award.

"We have taken multiple steps in implementing the Odisha Startup Policy 2016. Currently we are one of the fastest growing Startup states with over 20 startup registrations per month," Additional Chief Secretary MSME L N Gupta said.

Gupta received the the top performer certificate of appreciation from DIPP Secretary Ramesh Abhishek.

Startup Odisha Initiative is a flagship programme of the state government, which aims to support 1000 startup by 2020 apart from making the state one of the best startup hubs in the country, the senior officer said.

Odisha was also one of the first few states in the country to come up with a dedicated startup policy apart from putting in place a transparent online system for recognition and financial support to startups and incubators.

The state has currently recognised 334 startups within a period of just 18 months and has 9 incubators, 12 nodal institutions and 110 mentors to support them.

Startups from Odisha are now regularly winning national and international awards while a few have catalysed venture capital funding, Gupta said.

In the ranking process, the DIPP said, states have been identified as leaders across various categories such as startup policy, incubation hubs, seeding innovation, scaling innovation, regulatory change champions, procurement leaders, and communication champions.

On the basis of performance in these categories, states have been recognised as best performer, top performers, leaders, aspiring leaders, emerging states and beginners.

While Gujarat was the best performer, four states - Karantaka, Kerala, Odisha and Rajasthan - were there in top performers category.