Pune: Senior government officials, industry leaders, policymakers, and Global Capability Centre (GCC) representatives came together in Pune for a high-level roundtable focused on strengthening Maharashtra’s position as a leading destination for innovation, investment, and Global Capability Centres.
The event, titled “Scaling Capabilities – GCCs Ecosystem & Strategy,” was organized under the USIBC Great States Initiative through a collaboration between the Pune International Centre (PIC), the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), and the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA).
The discussions centered on building a stronger GCC ecosystem while promoting regional economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development.
The roundtable brought together key stakeholders from government, business, and academia to exchange ideas on enhancing Maharashtra’s competitiveness as a preferred destination for multinational companies establishing Global Capability Centres.
Among the prominent participants were:
- Kaustubh Dhavse, Chief Advisor (Investments and Strategy) to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra
- Ambassador (Retd.) Gautam Bambawale, Trustee, Pune International Centre
- Prashant Girbane, Director General, MCCIA
- Rahul Sharma, Managing Director, USIBC
- Dinanath Kholkar, Director, Pune International Centre
The interactive discussion was moderated by Dr. Ajit Ranade, Trustee of Pune International Centre, along with Dinanath Kholkar, encouraging an open dialogue between industry representatives and policymakers.
A major highlight of the session was the Pune Economic Region Growth Hub, an initiative aimed at positioning Pune as a globally competitive center for technology, innovation, and advanced business services.
Participants explored how Global Capability Centres can contribute beyond employment generation by supporting:
- Regional economic development.
- Innovation-driven investments.
- Sustainable urban growth.
- Improved liveability.
- Long-term global competitiveness.
The discussions emphasized that GCCs are increasingly becoming strategic innovation hubs rather than traditional back-office operations.
The roundtable also highlighted the growing importance of India–US economic cooperation in fostering innovation ecosystems and attracting high-value investments.
Participants discussed how stronger collaboration between governments, businesses, and research institutions can accelerate technology adoption, skill development, and policy reforms that support the expansion of Global Capability Centres across India.
Such partnerships are expected to play an important role in strengthening India’s position in the global knowledge economy.
India has emerged as one of the world’s leading destinations for Global Capability Centres, with multinational corporations expanding operations across cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and Mumbai.
For Maharashtra, attracting more GCC investments can:
- Generate high-skilled employment opportunities.
- Encourage research and innovation.
- Increase foreign direct investment.
- Strengthen digital and technology ecosystems.
- Support long-term regional economic growth.
The roundtable reflects ongoing efforts to ensure that policy frameworks evolve alongside the changing needs of global businesses.
Pune continues to strengthen its reputation as a major technology and engineering hub due to its skilled workforce, educational institutions, established IT sector, and improving infrastructure.
With continued collaboration between government bodies and industry organizations, the city is well-positioned to attract future investments in engineering, digital services, artificial intelligence, and advanced research.
