HSBC, with EY India, has launched the compendium on the GIFT City, which is rapidly evolving into one of India’s most vibrant financial and business hubs. The compendium serves as an essential resource for both global and domestic firms, offering a comprehensive overview of the financial services ecosystem at GIFT City, IFSC. It also highlights the impact of progressive policymaking, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and a unified regulatory framework provided by the IFSC Authority (IFSCA). 

The compendium is aimed at equipping businesses with the knowledge needed to navigate and capitalise on the opportunities within GIFT City, enhancing their strategic positioning in the international financial arena. 

Titled ‘The GIFT City Advantage: Doing Business in India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC)’, the compendium was unveiled by K. Rajaraman, Chairman, IFSCA and Anuradha Thakur, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs.

Anuradha Thakur, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, said, “GIFT City reflects India’s long-term vision of building a globally competitive, innovation-led financial ecosystem. With its unified regulatory architecture and robust infrastructure, it is emerging as an important gateway for global capital, high-value financial services and future-ready talent.” 

As global capital flows shift and India strengthens its position in international finance, GIFT City’s ecosystem is becoming pivotal to this transformation. 

K. Rajaraman, Chairperson, IFSCA, said, “IFSCA remains committed to shaping a world-class regulatory environment that promotes innovation, safeguards investor confidence, and positions GIFT City as a leading international financial jurisdiction. Our focus is on enabling new products, deepening markets and attracting global institutions.” 

Hitendra Dave, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC India, said, “GIFT City is redefining the future of international financial services. The combined growth in derivatives, offshore fund structures, and international banking demonstrates the centre’s ability to attract diverse categories of financial players. The next phase will be defined by partnerships and deeper capital-market engagement.” 

Rajiv Memani, Chairman and CEO, EY India, said, “GIFT City-IFSC has reached a pivotal stage in its evolution. Crossing 1,000 registered units and USD 100 billion in banking assets underscores that global institutions now view it as a credible, long-term strategic base. What excites the EY and HSBC teams is the momentum and depth of interest that GIFT City-IFSC is attracting.” 

Key highlights of the compendium: 

1) $100 billion in assets and rising cross-border activity: The compendium notes that banking continues to anchor GIFT City’s growth, with significant expansion in the International Banking Units (IBUs) as consolidated assets now exceed $100 billion. 

2) Trade finance, treasury operations, and cross-border lending have seen a marked uptick as global and Indian banks increasingly use IFSC to centralise offshore operations. 

3) It highlights a clear shift from basic booking activities to more sophisticated business lines such as structured finance, global treasury centres, and risk management functions. 

4) Capital market activity at IFSC exchanges has expanded to an average monthly turnover of around $90 billion. Cumulative debt listings have crossed $67 billion.

5) With regards to funds and asset management, 310 AIFs with $26 billion in commitments, fund management remains the fastest-expanding vertical. Over 310 Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) have registered at IFSC, with total commitments crossing $26 billion.