The Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar-GIFT City corridor is quickly establishing itself as India’s most dynamic Tier-II destination for Global Capability Centres (GCC), powered by pro-business policies, strong infrastructure, and a growing talent pool. A recent report from consulting firm Zinnov ranks Ahmedabad No. 1 among 20 Tier-II cities regarding ecosystem favourability for GCCs.

Currently home to more than 35 GCCs and GICs, 25+ service providers and over 60 startups, Ahmedabad has become the largest GCC hub outside Tier-I metros. GIFT City — India’s first operational International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) — draws multinational firms beyond banking and finance. In the past year, Infineon Technologies and Technip Energies have joined global players such as IBM, Google, Oracle, Capgemini, and Infosys in setting up operations here.

“GIFT City IFSC offers a 10-year tax holiday under Section 80la — the only such benefit in India,” said Jaiman Patel, Partner at EY. “Combine that with Gujarat’s business-friendly incentives like reduced stamp duty, discounted power tariffs, and up to 100% PF reimbursement for women hires, and the region becomes a desirable proposition.”

With over 850 registered IFSC units and an annual growth rate of 25%, GIFT City is seeing increasing interest from various sectors. Companies like Bank of America, Kraft Heinz, and Thomson Reuters are leveraging the zone’s policy clarity, plug-and-play infrastructure, and lower operational costs. The recently launched Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022–27 and a new GCC Policy have added momentum by offering fast-track approvals and targeted subsidies to tech and ESDM players.

Tapan Ray, MD and Group CEO of GIFT City, emphasised the importance of sustainable growth: “GIFT City is emerging as a robust GCC base, offering sustainable infrastructure, strong policy support, and ease of doing business. We also build partnerships with global universities and roll out skill programmes to ensure a steady talent pipeline.”

While access to entry-level talent is ample, industry leaders note the need to nurture mid- and senior-level professionals to maintain momentum. Still, the region scores high on quality of life, affordability, and safety — key decision factors in corporate location strategies today.

Technip Energies, a recent entrant, has quickly expanded its local footprint. “Our GIFT City office, Technip Energies’ fourth base in India, exceeded expectations,” said B V Ramanakumar, Director of the Ahmedabad operating centre. “With strong engineering talent, proximity to key clients like Reliance and Adani, and solid infrastructure, we are onboarding 50–60 employees a month and are on track to hit 400 by Q4.”

As global firms seek competitive, future-ready locations beyond India’s Tier-I cities, the Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar-GIFT City region is emerging as a smart bet, offering the scale, incentives, and lifestyle increasingly demanded by the modern workforce.