GIFT City targets 100,000 jobs by 2030; delegation strengthens ties with global giants at Davos
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A high-level delegation from the GIFT City on Thursday met with global industry leaders, innovators and decision-makers at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026. The engagements focused on positioning India’s first international financial services centre (IFSC) as a primary gateway for global capital and technology.
Discussions with senior leadership from firms such as Equinix, Cloudflare, Amundi, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network centred on long-term collaborations and new investments.
From "potential" to "global powerhouse"
The forum included an ambitious growth roadmap shared by GIFTY City managing director and group CEO Sanjay Kaul. Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Kaul said that GIFT City has surged to the 43rd rank among the world's top financial centers in just four years of operation.
"Davos serves as a premier platform to engage with C-suite executives and demonstrate how GIFT City can serve as a gateway for global capital into India," Kaul told ANI. He outlined a clear target to scale the hub's workforce from the current 27,000 to 100,000 people by the year 2030. This expansion is supported by the city's comprehensive ecosystem, which now manages a banking asset size of approximately $110 billion.
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Shift toward global capability centres (GCCs)
While traditional finance remains a pillar, the delegation stressed a strategic shift toward GCCs and centres of excellence. Major manufacturing and technology firms are increasingly looking at GIFT City as a cost-effective location for global support functions.
The hub’s appeal is further strengthened by its success in niche sectors like aircraft and ship leasing, alongside the presence of global giants like JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley. "The momentum of new registrations remains our standout metric," Kaul stated, stressing that the city's integrated urban infrastructure and progressive regulatory framework are now recognised globally.