Ecosystems to Drive the Next Generation of GCCs:Shri Sanjay Kaul
Speaking at the Session on “The Evolving GCC Ecosystem: Key Insights” at the second edition of the National CII GCC Business Summit held on 9 July in New Delhi organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Shri Sanjay Kaul, Group CEO and MD, GIFT City, said that “with AI entering all sphere of industry, we need a robust ecosystem supported by strong connectivity and digital infrastructure. We also need an ecosystem where innovation can thrive, backed by a regulatory framework that facilitates it. We have it in GIFT City.”
Mr Kaul further said that anywhere in the country with this kind of ecosystem would see GCCs thrive. “The next generation of GCCs would not be driven purely by locational factors or by incentives but by an ecosystem”, he said. “They will look for a strong ecosystem where one system feeds another, it is a whole continuum”.
He further said that Global Capability Centres (GCCs) initially came to India because of its abundant talent pool. Today, however, they were increasingly being drawn by the country's evolving capabilities and the broader ecosystem that supports innovation, making India an even more attractive destination for GCCs.
He stressed that companies increasingly choose locations that offer integrated ecosystems encompassing quality infrastructure, digital connectivity, predictable regulation, quality of life and opportunities for innovation rather than isolated incentives.
The session also examined India's emergence as the world's leading GCC destination. Speakers observed that India has moved beyond cost arbitrage to capability arbitrage and is now entering an era of "control arbitrage," where global enterprises are increasingly entrusting Indian GCCs with strategic decision-making and enterprise-wide transformation.
The discussion highlighted that GCCs are evolving from execution centres into innovation and AI transformation hubs. As organisations become increasingly AI-native, GCCs are expected to lead enterprise-wide process transformation, develop AI-driven solutions, reskill workforces and drive business innovation across global operations.
The panel also noted that the broader GCC ecosystem now encompasses headquarters, real estate providers, digital connectivity partners, legal and compliance firms, talent acquisition companies and educational institutions working together to accelerate business transformation. With GCCs rapidly expanding into engineering research and development (ER&D), artificial intelligence and Physical AI, India was well positioned to capture emerging opportunities across advanced manufacturing, automation and robotics.
Other speakers at the session included Mr Sriram Khattar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, DLF Limited, Mr Harsh Binani, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Smartworks Coworking Spaces; Shri Sundeep Gandhi, Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer – GCC, Accenture; and Shri Soumitra Saha, Managing Director and Country Head, Lumen India. The Session was moderated Mr Rohan Lobo, Partner, Deloitte, Industry & Channel Leader, GCCs.
Speakers emphasized that India’s sustained leadership as a global GCC destination will depend on further strengthening the enabling ecosystem through continued investments in digital and physical infrastructure, data centres, regulatory reforms, ease of doing business, education, and skilling, alongside deeper collaboration between industry and government.
They noted that India’s emergence as a leading global GCC hub has been driven by strong infrastructure, the Digital India mission, and sustained policy reforms, while highlighting the expanding role of GCCs in Research & Development (R&D), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies. The discussion also underscored the importance of replicating successful state-level models and fostering closer alignment between industry needs and enabling ecosystems to support the sector’s next phase of growth.
New Delhi
July 9, 2026