Gujarat Global Capability Centres – Beyond IFSC: Building a Future-Ready GCC Ecosystem
Introduction: Gujarat’s Next Big Leap in the GCC Story
Global Capability Centres (GCCs) are no longer back-office cost centres — they are strategic hubs of innovation and enterprise transformation. By centralising global functions, GCCs now deliver advanced services in technology, finance, engineering, analytics, and R&D, enabling multinational corporations to scale faster and smarter through setting up a GCC in Gujarat.
India leads this evolution with over 1,700 GCCs and is expected to surpass 2,500 by 2030, employing more than 3.3 million professionals. While Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune have established dominance, Gujarat is now stepping into the spotlight as an emerging GCC hub in India.
With its new GCC Policy 2025–30, Gujarat aims to become a premier hub for high-value GCCs, complementing the success of GIFT IFSC while unlocking broader state-wide opportunities for companies exploring Gujarat GCC policy benefits.
Gujarat GCC Policy 2025–30: Vision and Objectives
The policy seeks to transform Gujarat into a global GCC destination, aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and strengthening Gujarat’s positioning as a global capability centres destination in India.
- 250 new GCCs to be established.
- ₹10,000 crore investment to be attracted.
- 50,000+ jobs to be created.
- Focus on R&D, AI-driven services, and digital transformation.
- Integration of academia and industry to build a future-ready workforce.
Incentives under Gujarat GCC Policy
One of Gujarat’s strongest differentiators is its comprehensive incentive framework, which directly lowers set-up costs, operational expenditure, and talent acquisition challenges for companies evaluating the cost of setting up GCC in Gujarat.
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Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) Incentives
- Standard Units (< ₹250 Cr investment)
- 20% subsidy on building and infrastructure investment.
- 30% subsidy on IT-related assets (computers, software, networking).
- Maximum support: ₹50 crore, disbursed in 20 quarterly instalments.
- Mega Projects (≥ ₹250 Cr or 500+ jobs)
- 20% subsidy on building and infrastructure investment.
- 30% subsidy on IT-related assets.
- Maximum support: ₹200 crore, disbursed in instalments.
Note: CAPEX assistance is capped at ₹3,000 per sq. ft. and linked to the number of employees (60 sq. ft. per employee). This ensures practical scaling linked to real workforce deployment under the Gujarat GCC incentive scheme.
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Operational Expenditure (OPEX) Incentives
- Up to 15% reimbursement of eligible OPEX for five years.
- Capped at ₹20 crore annually for smaller units and ₹40 crore annually for mega projects.
- Eligible expenses include:
- Lease rentals (up to ₹50/sq. ft. per month).
- Bandwidth and cloud rentals (capped at 35% of OPEX).
- Power tariffs.
- Cloud subscriptions from registered Indian providers.
- Patent filing expenses (up to ₹10 lakh per patent, 10 patents/year).
These incentives significantly improve the operational benefits of GCC in Gujarat compared to other Indian states.
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Employment Generation Incentives
- ₹50,000 per male employee and ₹60,000 per female employee (one-time, after 1 year of employment).
- EPF Reimbursement for 5 years:
- 100% for female employees.
- 75% for male employees.
This not only reduces the cost of hiring but also encourages gender diversity in GCC hiring, strengthening the employment incentives under Gujarat GCC policy.
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Interest Assistance
- 7% subsidy on interest paid on term loans.
- Capped at ₹1 crore annually for 5 years.
- Loans must be from RBI-approved financial institutions and linked to eligible GCC projects, making project financing more viable for companies planning GCC setup in Gujarat.
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Electricity Duty Waiver
- 100% reimbursement of electricity duty for five years.
- Enhances cost efficiency for large-scale, high-consumption GCCs such as data centres and AI-led operations, improving the cost advantage of GCC in Gujarat.
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Skilling & Talent Development
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) up to ₹50,000 per person for globally recognised training or certifications.
- 75% of course fees reimbursed for students and 50% for working professionals.
- Designed to create a steady pipeline of future-ready professionals for GCCs and strengthen the talent ecosystem for GCCs in Gujarat.
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Quality & Innovation Support
- 80% reimbursement of quality certification costs (up to ₹10 lakh, five certifications per unit).
- Patent assistance to encourage IP creation within GCCs.
- GCCs supporting start-ups through incubation and acceleration also enjoy benefits under Gujarat’s IT/ITES Policy 2022–27, reinforcing Gujarat’s ambition to become a preferred GCC location in India.
GCCs supporting start-ups through incubation and acceleration also enjoy benefits under Gujarat’s IT/ITES Policy 2022–27, reinforcing Gujarat’s ambition to become a preferred GCC location in India.
Why Gujarat is Attractive for GCCs (Beyond IFSC)
Strong Economic Base
- Gujarat contributes 8.3% of India’s GDP, 18% of industrial output, and 31% of exports.
- Leads in petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and engineering.
This diversified economy strengthens Gujarat’s case as a strategic GCC destination beyond IFSC.
Infrastructure Readiness
- 200+ industrial estates and 100+ private parks.
- Dedicated investment regions (Dholera, Dahej, Mandal Becharaji).
- Robust urban infrastructure with metro, ports, and expressways.
Such infrastructure readiness supports scalable GCC operations in Gujarat.
Talent Pool
- 32,000+ IT graduates annually.
- Academic powerhouses like IIM Ahmedabad, IIT Gandhinagar, DA-IICT, PDEU, Nirma University.
- Tier-2 cities such as Vadodara and Surat offering a new wave of skilled professionals, improving the availability of skilled talent for GCC in Gujarat.
Business Environment
- Among the safest and most business-friendly states in India.
- Progressive governance, quick decision-making, and reduced bureaucratic friction, making it easier for global enterprises to establish a GCC in Gujarat.
Emerging GCC Hotspots
- Ahmedabad and Vadodara are already home to IT, engineering, and finance GCCs.
- New policy incentives expected to significantly increase this footprint and accelerate GCC expansion in Gujarat cities.
Sectoral Opportunities for GCCs in Gujarat
- Banking & Financial Services – Shared services for compliance, analytics, and operations, positioning Gujarat as a BFSI GCC hub in India.
- Engineering R&D – Automotive, chemicals, industrial innovation hubs.
- Technology & AI – Cloud services, digital platforms, cybersecurity, data centres.
- Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences – R&D centres supporting Gujarat’s pharma strength.
- Consumer & E-commerce – Supply chain and digital back-office solutions.
How Nexpective Advisors Helps
At Nexpective Advisors, we support multinational corporations in leveraging Gujarat’s GCC ecosystem — from incentive advisory and structuring to regulatory compliance, tax planning, and Virtual CFO support. With offices in Vadodara and GIFT IFSC, we provide seamless on-ground execution for companies evaluating how to set up a GCC in Gujarat.
Conclusion: Gujarat – The Next GCC Frontier
The Gujarat GCC Policy 2025–30 is a transformative step that makes the state one of India’s most attractive GCC destinations. By combining incentives, infrastructure, and talent, Gujarat positions itself as the next frontier for global enterprises seeking a cost-effective GCC location in India.
For early movers, the opportunity is clear: enter now, scale with policy support, and shape the future of global operations from Gujarat.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the minimum employee requirement to qualify as a GCC under the Gujarat GCC Policy?
To qualify as an eligible unit under the Gujarat GCC Policy, the entity must employ at least 50 employees on its payroll.
This employee threshold must be maintained on a continuous basis. If the employee count falls below 50 for three consecutive months, the unit may lose eligibility for further fiscal assistance under the policy. This condition ensures that incentives are granted to genuine capability centres with meaningful employment generation.
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Can an existing company outside Gujarat set up a GCC in Gujarat and claim incentives?
Yes. An existing company located outside Gujarat can establish a new GCC unit within Gujarat and qualify for incentives.
Such a unit will be treated as a “New Unit” under the policy, provided the investment and commercial operations commence during the policy’s operative period. This provision enables both multinational corporations and domestic companies to expand their global capability operations into Gujarat.
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What types of business activities qualify as a Global Capability Center under the policy?
The policy defines GCCs as centres established by domestic or multinational organisations to support global business operations.
Eligible functions include:
- Information Technology and Software Development
- Banking and Financial Services Support
- Engineering and Research & Development
- Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence
- Finance, Accounting, and Shared Services
- Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, and other sector-specific global support functions
Research and innovation-driven activities are also specifically covered under the policy.
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What is the operative period of the Gujarat GCC Policy 2025–30?
The Gujarat GCC Policy is effective from the date of notification and will remain in force until 31 March 2030.
To qualify for incentives:
- The application must be submitted on or before 31 March 2030, and
- Commercial operations must commence on or before 31 March 2031
Units meeting these timelines will be eligible to receive benefits under the policy.
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What qualifies as a Mega Project under the Gujarat GCC Policy?
A GCC project will be classified as a Mega Project if it meets either of the following criteria:
- Makes a minimum capital investment of ₹250 crore, or
- Generates at least 500 direct employment positions
Mega Projects are eligible for higher incentives and additional policy benefits under the Gujarat GCC framework.
