Kolkata: The state Information Technology and Electronics (IT&E) department is organising a knowledge workshop on fintech technology at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town on Friday. State IT minister Bratya Basu will deliver the inaugural address.
"Banks are switching more and more to digital transactions which has increased the chances of online frauds. So we need to have a strong cyber check in place to prevent such frauds. Cyber experts are already very much in demand and so the field of fintech will emerge as a major job provider in the coming days. Our government is gearing up to embrace fintech and blockchain in a big way to prevent financial frauds and the workshop is a significant stride towards this," a senior official of the state IT department said.
The workshop will have experts from some leading IT companies based in Kolkata and other parts of the country who are working in fintech.
"We had sought registration for 400 seats and have had 660 registrations which is a clear indication of the event going full house," state Additional Chief Secretary (IT&E), Debashis Sen said.
It may be mentioned that the state
government is trying to rope in leading fintech companies in its financial hub at New Town.
"There is a huge potential for technological invasion in the financial world. So, fintech-powered by artificial intelligence needs to be embraced. We have reserved a place in our financial hub where we are inviting fintech companies," the senior IT department official maintained.
West Bengal Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) has a land of 150 acre marked for a financial hub out of which, more than 35 acre has already been occupied by nearly 25 financial institutions like banks, insurance, share market etc.
New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) had signed an MoU with University of Strathclyde's Institute of Future Cities at the Bengal Global Business Summit held in January. Daniel Broby of University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, who is an expert in blockchain and fintech technology, visited the city and interacted with top officials of the IT department. Broby suggested that the use of quality technology in the fintech hub can act as a good catalyst.