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India made the right moves at the turn of the millennium, leading its transformation from being the world’s ‘back office’ to a global hub for high-value business operations, attracting multinationals to set up their Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Today, it hosts over 1,700 GCCs out of an estimated 3,200 globally.

However, competition is rising. Countries such as Poland, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the UAE are positioning themselves as viable alternatives, offering competitive costs, business-friendly policies and quicker regulatory clearances.

Poland, for instance, is fast emerging as a destination for setting up GCCs, challenging the traditional view of Europe as merely a hub for complementary functions. With a vibrant technology backed start-up culture, the country has over 600 startups in HealthTech, FinTech, and Edtech. According to Nasscom, the skilled workforce is another significant draw, with Tier-1 educational institutions annually producing around 94,000 STEM graduates. Similarly, the Philippines is also banking on its large pool of English-speaking population and STEM graduates to attract large enterprises to set up capability centres. 

Backed by strong government support, Poland actively encourages foreign investment through tax breaks and a range of incentives for companies looking to establish GCCs or IT operations. It also offers about 14 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) since 1995. Being a European Union member, it adheres to stringent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), one of the world’s most stringent privacy laws which provides a conducive and assured business climate. The Philippines on the other hand, with its competitive cost structure attracts global companies looking to establish a presence in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) market. With its first GCC established in 2010, and by 2025, the sector has experienced substantial growth, and is now hosting approximately 150 Global Capability Centers. 

Countries such as Vietnam and the UAE are also on the radar for setting up GCCs, positioning themselves as emerging destinations. The UAE attracts companies with investor-friendly policies, faster regulatory clearances, and cost advantages. Meanwhile, Vietnam has become a game-changer by embedding advanced digital technologies in law, education, and FDIs, alongside its cost efficiency and growing talent pool.

Still, India remains ahead—driven by its unmatched talent pool, digital maturity, and the ability to scale complex, innovation-led operations. Both national and state-level policies offer a bouquet of support—from land subsidies and stamp duty waivers to regulatory easing and infrastructure assistance. These incentives are no longer limited to metro cities, but have also extended to tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Coimbatore, Indore and Ahmedabad, contributing to their emergence as GCC hubs. This widespread support further strengthens India’s position in the GCC space, despite growing competition from other countries.

India’s GCC story continues to grow stronger year after year. By 2030, the market size is expected to exceed US$100 billion, with around 2,500 GCCs operating across the country and employing over 4.5 million people. With an increasing number of global leadership roles based in India, GCCs are set to move further up the value chain—driven by innovation, product development and digital transformation.