GCC Growth Accelerates in Coimbatore as Talent Base Attracts Global Firms

Coimbatore could increase its number of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) from more than 75 currently to nearly 200 by 2032, driven by its engineering talent, industrial base and expanding innovation ecosystem, according to a report released on Wednesday.

A joint report by EY and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) estimates that the city could attract around 125 additional GCCs over the next six years by leveraging its workforce stability, specialised talent and established industrial capabilities.

Coimbatore has a population of around 3.8 million, a technology workforce of more than 300,000 professionals and 137 engineering colleges. More than 30,000 STEM graduates enter the workforce in the city each year, the report said.

To support this expansion, the report has proposed a five-pillar ‘5R Growth Framework’ focused on strengthening Coimbatore's position as an alternative to India's major metropolitan GCC hubs.

The framework includes attracting companies seeking to expand beyond traditional metro locations, building on existing GCC success stories, encouraging regional enterprises to establish capability centres, developing specialised engineering and innovation capabilities, and helping existing GCCs expand their operations.

Manoj Marwah, Partner and GCC Markets Leader at EY India, said Coimbatore had moved beyond the conventional definition of a tier-two city and had demonstrated its ability to support large-scale GCC operations.

He noted that some GCCs in the city have already expanded to more than 1,000 employees, indicating the potential to undertake larger and more complex global mandates.

V Noushad, Chairman of the CII Coimbatore Zone and Managing Director of Walkaroo International Pvt Ltd, said global companies were increasingly looking beyond traditional metropolitan centres for talent, resilience and specialised capabilities.

He said Coimbatore was well positioned to play a larger role in India's expanding GCC ecosystem and that the proposed framework could provide a roadmap for developing a globally competitive environment.

The report identified factors including lower employee attrition, strong educational institutions, competitive office rentals and supportive state government policies as potential advantages that could further support the city's GCC expansion.