Hyderabad all set to emerge as top-notch GCC hub: Tech gurus

Hyderabad: GlobalCapability Centre (GCC) experts opined that Hyderabad is set to emerge as Global GCC Powerhouse by 2030.

They also exuded confidence that Hyderabad would emerge as a GCC Strategic Command Centre, a leading GCC hub and a GCC Innovation Centre by 2030. They also predicted that the city would become a preferred destination for Micro-GCCs.

These views were expressed during a panel discussion on GCC Hyderabad at the hmtv Business Excellence Awards-2026 held at JRC Convention on Wednesday.

Technogen India CEO Anand Jandhyala moderated the session, in which Rajesh Balaraju, head of GCC Enablement at LPL Finance; Himanshu Gandhi, GM, Cohere Health India and Phani Kumar G, Executive Head, Hartree Global Services India Private Limited, participated as speakers.

The panellists observed that Hyderabad's diversity and inclusive culture had made it a preferred destination for GCCs. Nearly, 40 per cent of the country's GCCs established operations in Hyderabad over the last three years, while around 20 per cent of talent from other parts of the country had moved to the city, attracted by its welcoming environment.

Rajesh Balaraju, however, stressed the need to build a stronger reputation for Hyderabad on the global stage.

He said the city must cultivate business-oriented thinking and a strong organisational culture to sustain its GCC ecosystem and achieve long-term growth.

Phani Kumar emphasised the need for greater innovation and a fresh approach to technology. Himanshu Gandhi, meanwhile, pointed out that several innovation initiatives were already taking place at T-Hub.

The panellists unanimously expressed confidence that Hyderabad would become a GCC powerhouse by 2030. Phani Kumar said technology was evolving rapidly in the city and that Hyderabad was poised to emerge as one of the leading GCC destinations, outperforming other cities.

Rajesh Balaraju observed that the nature of work in new GCCs was changing, with the scope of operations and value creation continuously evolving. Himanshu Gandhi stressed that Hyderabad's GCCs needed to adopt a more strategic vision to remain competitive by 2030. Rajesh said the city needed to develop specialised expertise and groom professionals capable of becoming global business leaders.

Focus on AI and talent development

Offering advice to students and young professionals, Phani Kumar said they should not remain mere followers when it comes to Artificial Intelligence (AI), but should develop independent thinking and analytical abilities.

Rajesh Balaraju called upon students to evolve from 'Doers' to 'Thinkers', stressing that delivering excellence was what mattered most. He said deep technical expertise, business understanding and problem-solving skills were essential to excel in the AI era.

The speakers agreed that although Hyderabad had exceptional talent, professional behaviour and attitude were equally important. Himanshu Gandhi observed that taking a person with 70 per cent talent to 100 per cent was not difficult, but behaviour played a crucial role in determining professional success.

Phani Kumar advised students to stay informed about global developments and understand what was happening across the world. Such awareness and learning habits should be developed from the beginning of their careers, he added.

The panellists also highlighted Hyderabad's exceptional ecosystem for GCC growth. Rajesh Balaraju said the Telangana government was extending strong support to GCCs, particularly through infrastructure development and initiatives such as T-Hub. The experts concluded that Hyderabad had all the essential ingredients to become a global GCC destination, but sustained innovation, strategic thinking, business expertise and talent development would be crucial to achieving its ambitions by 2030.

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Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty

Venkateshwarlu Kolishetty