In a compelling EGROW Webinar address, Founder of Astramind Consulting unveils a bold 10x Vision, urging a digital-first Tripura approach powered by AI, innovation, and youth-led transformation to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Agartala, Aug 3: In a visionary address at the recent EGROW Webinar, Tridib Bhattacharjee, Founder & Chief Advisor of Astramind Consulting, outlined a transformative roadmap for Tripura’s economy, urging the state to embrace a digital and AI-driven future.
Proud son of the soil, Bhattacharjee emphasized the urgency of aligning the state with global technological trends to ensure sustainable growth and economic resilience.
A Call to the Youth
Urging the Tripura’s youth, Bhattacharjee highlighted the need to move beyond the state’s traditional economic framework. “The future must look different from our past,” he said, advocating for a shift toward a digital ecosystem powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
He distinguished between IT, which provides tools, and digitalization, which enables transformation across people, organizations, and governance. AI, he noted, is a disruptive yet positive force that Tripura must harness to stay competitive.
Five Pillars for Transformation
Bhattacharjee proposed five key pillars to reshape Tripura’s economic landscape:
- Human Capital Development: Equipping the youth, workforce, and administrators with digital and AI skills is critical. By fostering a tech-savvy population, Tripura can position itself as a growth engine for Northeast India. Bhattacharjee stressed that digital literacy should become a way of life, drawing inspiration from other states that have prioritized skill-building.
- Digital Public Infrastructure: Over the next decade, Tripura must build robust digital infrastructure to enhance governance, transparency, and service delivery. Citing the success of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), he called for similar initiatives to streamline public services and build trust.
- Innovation Culture: Reflecting on his Silicon Valley experience, Bhattacharjee urged Tripura to cultivate an innovation-driven culture. He envisioned the state as India’s equivalent of Estonia—a small but tech-forward region that produced global giants like Skype. Universities, he suggested, should focus on creating intellectual property to attract investment and foster entrepreneurship.
- Sectoral Digitalization: Key sectors like agriculture, tourism, handicrafts, and fisheries must undergo digital transformation to create smart value chains. Initiatives like the proposed Tripura Food Technology (TFT) could enhance productivity and global competitiveness.
- Attracting Investment: By strengthening these pillars, Tripura can position itself as an investor-friendly destination.
Bhattacharjee warned that missing the “digital flight” could jeopardize the state’s sustainability, especially after lagging in the IT revolution.
Learning from Other States
Bhattacharjee pointed to successful models in other states. Maharashtra’s ₹500 crore Maha Agri AI policy has revolutionized farming with drones and AI chatbots, while Gujarat’s five-year AI plan supports startups and trains 2.5 lakh people.
Uttar Pradesh’s AI Yojana and Kerala’s digital science parks demonstrate how strategic investments in AI and digital infrastructure can drive economic growth. Tripura, he argued, must adopt similar strategies tailored to its unique strengths.
Tripura’s Early Steps:
The state has already initiated projects like a 5G data center hub to support AI innovation and AI-driven education programs, including an aspirational board for 10th and 12th graders.
Workshops on AI for governance and design thinking are also underway, emphasizing empathy for citizens’ needs, particularly among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
However, Bhattacharjee stressed the need for practical, case-study-driven approaches to maximize impact.
Ten Actionable Recommendations
To operationalize this vision, Bhattacharjee proposed ten practical steps:
- Launch a state-backed digital and AI incubator for deep tech and agritech startups.
- Create a public AI data exchange platform integrating government, academic, and private sector data.
- Initiate a statewide AI capability mission aligned with the India AI Mission.
- Establish a Tripura AI Innovation Center of Excellence.
- Streamline investment processes with a single-window clearance system and real-time dashboards.
- Deploy AI-powered public service tools, such as multilingual chatbots and smart governance platforms.
- Develop AI-driven programs for agriculture, fisheries, and handicrafts to boost rural incomes.
- Create a state-funded AI startup grant fund linked to national frameworks.
- Integrate AI and digital curricula in schools and universities, emphasizing real-world projects.
- Organize AI and digital hackathons to crowdsource solutions and connect talent globally.
Balancing Ambition and Pragmatism
Bhattacharjee advocated for a dual approach of “moonshots”—bold, high-risk ideas—and “roof shots,” incremental goals that pave the way for transformative growth.
“By mapping roof shots to moonshots, Tripura can achieve 10x growth in three years,” he said, emphasizing the importance of execution and mentorship.
A Vision for a New Tripura
With its small size and agility, Tripura has the potential to become a nimble, tech-forward state. Bhattacharjee’s call to action is clear: by investing in human capital, digital infrastructure, innovation, and strategic sectors, Tripura can attract global investment and secure a sustainable future.
“Let’s empower Tripura to become digitally capable, innovative, and investor-ready,” he concluded, inspiring a new generation to lead the state into a bold, AI-driven era.
