India’s growing GCC network creates 2 million direct, 10 million indirect jobs: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday said India’s growing network of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) has emerged as a major employment generator, with nearly 1,800 GCCs currently operating in the country and creating around 2 million direct jobs and nearly 10 million indirect jobs. 

Addressing the ASSOCHAM India Business Reform Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Goyal said global companies are increasingly placing their trust in India’s skilled workforce and expanding operations in the country amid rising demand for technology and business services. 

India emerging as trusted GCC hub 

“Around 1,800 GCCs are operating in the country and generating nearly 2 million direct jobs and around 10 million indirect jobs,” the minister said. He added that international companies increasingly recognised India “as a trusted partner with youthful and talented manpower capable of supporting global operations.” 

The minister expressed confidence in the country’s services sector and said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity would open new opportunities for growth and employment. 

“India should look at emerging technologies, business reforms and global developments as opportunities,” Goyal said while highlighting the government’s push to create an enabling ecosystem for investments in data centres and cloud services. 

He said investments in data centres would create demand across sectors such as real estate, logistics, hospitality, transport, healthcare, education and manufacturing, thereby generating a broader economic multiplier effect. 

Global uncertainties can create opportunities 

The minister also said India must use current geopolitical uncertainties and global supply chain shifts as an opportunity to strengthen competitiveness and accelerate reforms. “The present global situation and geopolitical uncertainties should be viewed as an opportunity for India to strengthen business processes, undertake faster reforms, build greater resilience and strengthen supply chains,” he said. 

Goyal noted that India’s exports touched an all-time high of $863 billion last year despite global disruptions including tariffs, the Ukraine conflict and the West Asia crisis. He urged Indian businesses to leverage free trade agreements and focus on exporting more value-added products to global markets.