Maharashtra Determined to Become India’s Most Preferred Destination for Global Capability Centres: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Xtreme News India   11-08-2026 21:02:14   39476493

Maharashtra Determined to Become India’s Most Preferred Destination for Global Capability Centres: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Pune (Correspondent): Maharashtra is determined to become India’s leading and most preferred destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with the state government setting an ambitious target of attracting 400 new GCCs, creating 4 lakh high-skilled employment opportunities and bringing in investments worth ₹50,000 crore, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the GCCProz Leadership Summit held at Hotel Conrad. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar, Pune Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, Chief Minister’s Investment and Policy Advisor Kaustubh Dhavse, GCCProz Chief Advisor Nilesh Deshmukh, Shammi Prabhakar, senior officials, heads of various GCCs and industry leaders were present.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said India’s GCC journey initially developed on the strength of skilled manpower, talent and cost efficiency. However, the sector is now undergoing a major transformation. GCCs in 2030 will no longer be limited to back-office support functions. They will emerge as centres for engineering, artificial intelligence, product development, cybersecurity, financial services, data analytics, and research and development. Important decisions concerning global businesses will also be taken from these centres.

Maharashtra Has a Comprehensive Ecosystem for GCCs

Maharashtra’s biggest advantage in the GCC sector is that the state already has a comprehensive ecosystem required for such centres. Mumbai has one of the country’s deepest financial and business ecosystems, while Pune has a strong base in engineering, the automobile industry, manufacturing, technology and quality talent.

Cities such as Nashik, Nagpur and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar also have the potential to develop specialised global capability centres.

 Therefore, Maharashtra offers not just the opportunity to invest in a single city, but also the advantage of leveraging talent, skills and industrial capabilities available across different cities.

“Maharashtra does not have just one good city; it has an entire network of cities, talent and capabilities,” Chief Minister Fadnavis said.

Pune demonstrated its capabilities in the GCC sector in 2025. During 2025, Pune became India’s second-largest office market for GCCs, with the number of such centres more than doubling compared with the previous year. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that Pune would lead the country in the GCC sector by the end of 2026.

Focus on Building a Strong Ecosystem, Not Just Providing Incentives

The state government does not believe that Maharashtra should attract GCCs merely by offering better financial incentives. Incentives may attract investments, but a sustainable ecosystem is built on talented manpower, infrastructure, ease of doing business, quality of life, research, universities, connectivity and trust between the government and industry, Fadnavis said.

Maharashtra’s GCC policy includes incentives such as wage subsidies, assistance for capital expenditure or rental costs, interest subsidies, support for research and development and other financial incentives.

At the same time, the policy focuses on providing industry-grade infrastructure, additional Floor Space Index (FSI), flexibility in land use, priority availability of land, digital information repositories, reliable infrastructure and facilities required for round-the-clock, seven-days-a-week operations.

“While all these are important instruments, the real objective is to build capabilities,” the Chief Minister said.

Need to Create a Future-Ready Skilled Workforce

The challenge before industries today is not merely the availability of employees, but whether employees with the right skills will be available. Therefore, it is essential to create a pipeline of skilled manpower keeping future requirements in mind, Fadnavis said.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the nature of employment. Demand is increasing for AI engineers, data analytics specialists, cybersecurity experts, semiconductor technology engineers, product managers, advanced manufacturing technology engineers, quantitative finance specialists and life sciences professionals.

The government, industry and education sectors must work together to create the skills required for the future. Industry should guide universities on what skills need to be taught in the coming years. Companies should communicate not merely what skills were required five years ago, but what skills will be needed over the next five years, the Chief Minister appealed.

Maharashtra to Remain at the Forefront of AI and Advanced Technologies

Maharashtra aims to remain a leader in artificial intelligence. During the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos this year, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to establish a centre in BKC focused on the use, research and innovation of artificial intelligence technologies.

The objective of this initiative is to ensure that Maharashtra plays an important role in developing future technologies, the Chief Minister said.

Maharashtra already has strong industrial capabilities in semiconductors, fintech, cybersecurity, advanced engineering, pharmaceutical research and development, electric vehicle technology and industrial technology.

“The next generation of GCCs must be developed at the intersection of these capabilities,” he said.

GCCs to Expand Beyond Mumbai and Pune

There is no need for all 400 GCCs proposed for the state to be located only in Mumbai or Pune. Mumbai and Pune will continue to remain the state’s major global centres, but talented manpower is available across different districts of Maharashtra.

The state’s policy seeks to involve Tier-II and Tier-III cities in the GCC ecosystem. Specialised GCC functions can be developed in Nashik, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other emerging urban centres.

Mumbai could develop as a centre for global financial and institutional functions; Pune as a centre for engineering and product development; Navi Mumbai as a global business and technology centre; Nagpur as a specialised technology and shared-services centre; Nashik as a centre for engineering and industrial capabilities; and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar as a centre for advanced manufacturing and automotive capabilities.

This would help create a broader and more flexible GCC ecosystem across the state, the Chief Minister said.

Government Must Also Transform Its Working Style

If transformation is expected in the GCC sector, the government must also transform its way of working. In today’s fast-changing world, the government must function like an institution as well as a platform.

Industries should not have to wait for weeks or months for routine approvals. They should receive certainty, a clear response and a system that takes responsibility when problems arise, Fadnavis said.

The state government will work towards creating a single responsible government contact mechanism for GCCs. One designated person and one system will take responsibility for establishing and expanding a centre and resolving issues that may arise.

The true meaning of ease of doing business lies in improving the experience companies have when dealing with government offices, and the government is determined to improve that experience, the Chief Minister said.

GCCs Will Play a Key Role in Maharashtra’s $1 Trillion Economy Goal

Global Capability Centres will play a crucial role in Maharashtra’s ambitious goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy.

“These centres do not merely bring capital; they bring knowledge, global practices, research and development, leadership and high-value employment. GCCs directly connect Maharashtra’s talented workforce with the global economy and create concentrated centres of global decision-making,” Fadnavis said.

The Chief Minister called for coordinated efforts by industry, government and the education sector to make Maharashtra India’s leading and most preferred destination for Global Capability Centres.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said Maharashtra’s ambition is not merely to become a centre for GCC operations, but to emerge as a global hub for innovation, research, product development and advanced technologies.

Pune’s strong technology ecosystem, skilled workforce and unique combination of IT and manufacturing capabilities make it well positioned for AI, robotics, cybersecurity, advanced engineering and R&D, she said.

GCCs are creating not only employment but also research opportunities, intellectual property and global career opportunities. The government is focused on equipping Maharashtra’s youth with the skills required for future technologies.

Through coordination among industry, educational institutions, startups and the government, Maharashtra aims to become a global hub for technology and innovation, Pawar said.

The government is committed to providing investors with the necessary infrastructure, connectivity, digital systems and ease of doing business.

“Maharashtra is ready, Pune is ready,” she said.

In his introductory remarks, GCCProz Chief Advisor Nilesh Deshmukh explained the purpose of the one-day summit and thanked the state government for its positive cooperation.