Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 14: India now accounts for nearly a third of the global AI and tech workforce, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday, underlining the country’s growing dominance in talent and innovation during her keynote at the CII GCC Business Summit 2025 in the capital.
Sitharaman highlighted that India houses 32% of global GCC (Global Capability Centre) talent, 28% of the global STEM workforce, and 23% of the world’s software engineering talent, reinforcing its status as a global talent engine. “We have among the highest penetration of AI skills globally,” she said.
She noted that India's GCCs have transformed from back-office support units to strategic innovation centres, helping multinational companies tap into India’s deep talent pool. The country currently hosts 1,800 GCCs employing over 2.16 million professionals, contributing $68 billion to GDP — with projections pointing toward $150–200 billion by 2030.
Sitharaman also stressed the government's emphasis on skills development and inclusive workforce participation, pointing out that India has the highest proportion of female STEM graduates globally (42.7%). She added that over 1.6 crore youth have been trained under the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana, a key skilling initiative.
The Finance Minister encouraged GCCs to invest beyond metro cities, tapping the growing potential in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and cited GIFT City as a successful regulatory model.
On policy support, she emphasized efforts to reduce red tape and increase predictability for businesses, including streamlining approvals, tax certainty on APAs, and cross-ministerial coordination. “India must not lose this opportunity,” she asserted, assuring full government backing.
CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee commended the government’s efforts in prioritizing GCCs as a national growth engine. He reaffirmed CII’s commitment to making India not just the largest GCC destination, but also a leader in innovation and strategic value.
In a separate session, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal noted that FTAs are evolving into enablers of the services sector, with India’s trade agreements now incorporating innovation and regulatory harmonisation, further boosting the GCC ecosystem.
The summit marked a strong endorsement of India’s role in shaping the future of global business services, technology, and innovation.