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Odisha Aims to Become India's Next Global Capability Centre Hub by 2030

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  Published in Business and Finance on Friday, November 21st 2025 at 22:12 GMT by The Hans India

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Odisha’s Ambitious Drive to Become a Global Capability Centre Hub

The state government of Odisha has set its sights on a bold objective: to transform the region into a magnet for Global Capability Centres (GCCs). A GCC is essentially a global operations hub that large multinational corporations (MNCs) establish outside their home country to offer services—ranging from IT and data analytics to customer support—to their worldwide clientele. While the concept has already taken root in cities such as Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune, Odisha’s push to bring GCCs to its borders is an unprecedented move in the eastern part of India.

1. The Vision Behind the Initiative

Odisha’s IT Minister, Mr. Subhas Nandy, explained that the “Digital Odisha Vision 2030” blueprint aims to harness the state’s untapped human capital and emerging technology infrastructure to carve a niche in the global service sector. By attracting GCCs, the state hopes to:

• Generate high‑quality employment for the growing graduate pool.
• Accelerate skill development through on‑the‑job training in cutting‑edge domains such as AI, cloud, and cybersecurity.
• Boost economic diversification beyond the traditional mining and steel sectors.
• Position Odisha as a “smart city” on a global scale, leveraging existing initiatives like the Bhubaneswar Smart City plan and the recently announced 5G rollout.

The article cites a report by NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies) that predicts GCCs will grow at a 15% CAGR in India. Odisha’s aim is to capture a slice of this expanding market.

2. The Incentive Package: A “Zero‑Tax” Playbook

To entice MNCs, the state has rolled out a multi‑layered incentive scheme:

• Corporate Income‑Tax Holiday: Up to 10 years of tax exemption for GCCs operating under the new “GCC Policy 2024.”
• GST Exemptions: 100% GST exemption on the first three years of operation for equipment, software licences, and import duties.
• Land and Infrastructure: Provision of land parcels in dedicated GCC parks (in Bhubaneswar, Berhampur, and Cuttack) at concessional rates.
• Digital Connectivity: Guaranteed 5G connectivity with fibre‑optic backbones, backed by a state‑owned telecom infrastructure project.
• Skilled‑Labour Matching: Subsidised recruitment programmes that connect GCCs to Odisha’s 120,000‑strong IT graduate pool, with additional support from the state’s Skill Development Mission.

This comprehensive package mirrors the incentives offered by other fast‑growing hubs like Pune’s “Technology Investment Region” and Chennai’s “Global Business District.”

3. Existing Ecosystem: A Solid Foundation

Odisha has been building an infrastructure that supports the GCC proposition even before the policy came into force.

• IT Parks and Incubation Hubs: The state now hosts 34 IT parks, with 12 of them specifically tailored for data centres and cloud services.
• Data‑Centre Capacity: Over 8 gigawatt of data‑centre capacity is already online, and the “Odisha Digital Hub” in Bhubaneswar is slated to expand to 5 GW by 2026.
• Skill Centres: The Odisha Institute of Technology (OIT) and the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) have launched GCC‑aligned programmes that include partnerships with global giants such as Microsoft and Accenture.
• Transport and Logistics: The state’s expanding port infrastructure at Paradip, and its dedicated freight corridors, provide reliable supply chains for hardware and equipment.

These existing assets give GCCs the operational backbone they need, making Odisha a more attractive proposition compared to states that still lack sufficient infrastructure.

4. Stakeholder Engagement and Success Stories

The article features interviews with a handful of key stakeholders:

• NASSCOM Representative: He notes that GCCs look for “end‑to‑end ecosystems,” which Odisha offers through a blend of public‑private partnership models.
• Corporate Executive: An executive from a Fortune‑500 software house confirmed that Odisha’s “high‑skill‑rate and low‑cost labour” is a decisive factor in its decision to set up a pilot GCC in the state.
• Academic Leader: A dean at the Odisha University of Technology emphasized the importance of academia‑industry collaborations in building a continuous talent pipeline.

There is also a footnote in the article linking to a case study on the “Odisha Tech Innovation Hub” (OTIH) that showcases how a local start‑up was scaled up by a GCC partnership in 2023.

5. Challenges and Mitigation Strategies

Despite the positive momentum, the article candidly discusses hurdles:

• Connectivity Gaps: Some remote districts still lack broadband infrastructure. The state plans to bridge this through the “Digital Connectivity for Rural Odisha” initiative.
• Competition from Established Hubs: Karnataka and Telangana already offer deep talent pools and long‑standing GCC relationships. Odisha is countering by targeting niche sectors like “Renewable Energy Services” and “Geospatial Analytics.”
• Talent Upskilling: While the graduate pool is robust, upskilling to meet GCC standards requires continuous investment. The state has earmarked ₹1.5 billion for industry‑driven training programmes over the next three years.

6. The Road Ahead

In conclusion, Odisha’s strategic alignment of policy, infrastructure, and human capital paints a promising picture for GCC proliferation. The state’s plan includes:

1. Expansion of GCC parks to include 6 new sites by 2028.
2. Public‑private joint ventures to build data‑centre “mega‑hubs.”
3. In‑depth collaboration with global consultancy firms to establish “GCC‑ready” training modules.
4. Annual GCC Summit to bring together MNCs, local startups, and academia, with the first summit slated for December 2025.

If the projected timeline is followed, Odisha could very well become the “next frontier” for global business operations, providing a robust economic stimulus that reverberates across the state’s social and industrial fabric.

The article draws upon official statements from the Odisha government, NASSCOM data, and industry interviews, and follows up on external links such as the NASSCOM GCC profile and the Odisha IT policy documents to provide a well‑rounded view of this ambitious initiative.