Advertisement
What really powers the cloud? Behind every Google search, A...
A lot of what defines a home isn’t visible at handover. I...
Private equity has played a significant role in shaping Indi...
Luxury real estate is one of the most talked-about segments ...
Airports play a much bigger role than just enabling travel -...
Kerala highlighted its potential to become a preferred destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs) during the Kerala GCC Outlook 2026 conclave held in Thiruvananthapuram. Industry experts pointed to the state's strong education ecosystem, skilled workforce, quality of life and startup ecosystem as major advantages. They also stressed the need for improved infrastructure, better connectivity, ready-to-move incubation spaces and stronger collaboration between academia, industry and the government. The discussions also underlined Kerala's lower employee attrition rates and the role of the state's global diaspora in attracting future GCC investments.
Kerala has the necessary strengths, including a well-established education ecosystem and a growing startup landscape, to attract more Global Capability Centres (GCCs), according to industry experts who participated in the Kerala GCC Outlook 2026 conclave held at Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram earlier this week.
The observations were made during a panel discussion on 'Kerala GCC Opportunity: From Strategic Assessment to Accelerated Growth', held ahead of the release of the Kerala GCC feasibility report. The report was launched by Kerala Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, according to an official government release.
The panel featured Hrishikesh Nair, Chief Operating Officer of Brigade Enterprises Ltd., Suja Chandy, Chief Sustainability Officer (Global) and Managing Director of India at Zafin, and Karthik Parasuram, General Manager and Centre Head of NOV's Digital Technology Centre. The discussion focused on the measures required to accelerate Kerala's emergence as a major GCC destination in India.
According to Chandy, Kerala has the potential to become a specialised destination for GCCs because of its strong educational institutions, which continue to produce a skilled talent pool. She also highlighted the state's favourable climate, good air quality and focus on sustainability as factors that could encourage more companies to establish GCC operations in the state.
She further stated that maintaining this advantage would require stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industries, with the government playing a facilitating role. Such partnerships, she said, would help ensure a steady pipeline of skilled professionals for future GCC expansion.
Nair said Kerala should create more ready-to-occupy incubation spaces and continue investing in high-quality infrastructure to improve its competitiveness in attracting global companies. He added that efficient air and rail connectivity, along with well-connected metro transport systems, remain key considerations for companies when selecting locations for new GCC operations.
The experts also observed that companies operating in Kerala generally experience lower employee attrition than those in major metropolitan cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi. They noted that the state's quality of life encourages professionals to stay longer, making it an attractive destination for employers seeking workforce stability.
The panel also emphasised the importance of improving connectivity with Tier-1 cities to support a hub-and-spoke operating model. According to the experts, this approach would encourage greater exchange of talent and expertise across locations, which is an important requirement for the effective functioning of GCCs.
Another recommendation was that Kerala should leverage its global diaspora to promote the state's strengths and business ecosystem internationally. The experts said this could improve Kerala's visibility among multinational companies evaluating new GCC locations.
The Kerala GCC Outlook 2026 conclave served as a platform for industry leaders, policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the state's expanding GCC ecosystem and identify opportunities that could help position Kerala as one of India's leading destinations for Global Capability Centres.
Over the past few years, India has strengthened its position as one of the world's largest GCC markets, with multinational companies increasingly setting up centres to manage technology, engineering, finance, research, analytics and business operations. While cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Gurgaon continue to dominate the sector, several state governments, including Kerala, have been working to attract a share of future GCC investments by improving infrastructure, expanding skilled talent availability and strengthening the overall business ecosystem.
Source PTI
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
