Karnataka aims to establish 500 Global Capability Centres and create 3.5 lakh jobs by 2029, as revealed during the KATALYST CONNECT event led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
New Delhi, India Jul 9, 2026 ALN: Karnataka has thrown down a marker for the next chapter of India's technology story. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday brought more than 150 global business leaders under one roof in Bengaluru and made the State's ambition unmistakable: 500 new Global Capability Centres, 3.5 lakh high-quality jobs, and US$50 billion in economic output by 2029.
The occasion was KATALYST CONNECT, the Chief Minister's meet with Global Capability Centre (GCC) leaders, hosted by the Department of Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology in partnership with the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM). More than a networking session, it was a working consultation, a chance for the people who run the India arms of the world's largest corporations to tell the government exactly what they need to grow.
Global Capability Centres are the offshore hubs multinational companies set up to run critical parts of their business: engineering, research, finance, product design, AI, and more. For years, these centres were seen as back offices. Today they are anything but. The world's biggest firms now hand their India teams strategic mandates that shape global products.
Karnataka, and Bengaluru in particular, sits at the centre of that shift. The State has positioned itself as India's premier GCC destination, and KATALYST CONNECT was designed to keep it there. The transformation of GCCs from mere support functions to strategic business units reflects a broader trend in the global marketplace, where companies are increasingly recognizing the value of leveraging India's skilled workforce and cost-effective operations to drive innovation and efficiency.
Before chairing the consultation, Shivakumar toured the Bengaluru campus of Target in India, the GCC of US retail giant Target Corporation. He met the leadership and saw first-hand the range of work being run out of Karnataka: technology, AI, finance, marketing, digital, supply chain, merchandising, and store design among them. This visit underscored a point the government has been keen to make: Karnataka's GCCs are no longer executing instructions from elsewhere. They are increasingly the place where global strategy is built.
The consultation drew leadership from a who's-who of multinational enterprises, including Google, Target, Intel, IBM, Anthropic, Nokia, Bosch, JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, Chevron, Philips, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Takeda, Novo Nordisk Global Business Services, Lowe's India, Rolls-Royce, Raytheon, Ford, eBay, Snowflake, Carl Zeiss, Collins Aerospace, Johnson Controls, Wayfair, Waters, Verint, A.P. Moller-Maersk, and Delta Air Lines, alongside senior government officials and industry stakeholders. The presence of such a diverse array of companies highlights Karnataka's significance in the global tech landscape and its appeal as a destination for investment.
Their agenda was practical. Leaders raised talent availability and future workforce readiness, urban and digital infrastructure, AI adoption, ease of doing business, faster policy responses, deeper industry-academia collaboration, and, crucially, spreading GCC investment beyond Bengaluru into the rest of the State. This emphasis on addressing tangible challenges reflects a growing recognition among businesses that the success of their operations in India depends on a conducive environment that fosters innovation and collaboration.
Addressing the gathering, Shivakumar framed the relationship as a partnership that has already paid off, and one he intends to deepen. "Karnataka's partnership with Global Capability Centres has helped build one of the world's most dynamic innovation ecosystems," he said, adding that the government remains committed to "creating an environment where businesses can innovate with confidence, access world-class talent, and scale globally." This commitment is critical as it signals to investors that Karnataka is serious about fostering a business-friendly climate.
Home, IT and BT Minister Priyank M. Kharge pointed to how the role of these centres is changing. "As GCCs evolve from delivery centres into global hubs for AI, engineering, R&D, and product innovation, our focus is on ensuring that Karnataka continues to provide the talent, policy environment, and innovation ecosystem required for them to take on larger global mandates," he said. This acknowledgment of the evolving nature of GCCs reflects a broader trend in the tech industry, where the demand for advanced skills and innovative solutions is growing rapidly.
Dr. N. Manjula, Secretary of the IT-BT department, said the recommendations from industry would directly shape the State's roadmap, and pointed to the Karnataka GCC Policy 2024-2029 and initiatives such as KATALYST, LEAP, Centres of Excellence, NIPUNA, and Beyond Bengaluru as the vehicles to turn talk into action. The emphasis on policy frameworks and initiatives indicates a proactive approach by the government to not only attract investment but also ensure that the benefits are distributed across the State.
Discussions clustered around a set of priorities that read like a blueprint for where Karnataka wants its GCC economy to go:
KATALYST CONNECT closed with a shared commitment between the government and industry to turn the day's recommendations into concrete measures. The subtext was clear: the competition for GCC investment, from other Indian states and from rival global hubs, is intensifying, and Karnataka is betting that listening closely to industry and acting fast is how it stays ahead. This proactive stance is essential in a rapidly changing global economic landscape, where the ability to adapt and innovate can determine a region's success.
As Karnataka embarks on this ambitious journey towards 2029, the implications for the local economy, workforce, and technological landscape could be profound. The creation of 3.5 lakh high-quality jobs not only promises to enhance the standard of living for many families but also positions Karnataka as a leader in the global tech arena. The focus on expanding GCCs beyond Bengaluru also suggests a strategic intent to decentralize economic growth, which could lead to more balanced development across the State.
Additionally, the emphasis on AI and digital transformation aligns with global trends, where businesses are increasingly leveraging technology to enhance productivity and drive innovation. As GCCs take on larger global mandates, Karnataka's role in shaping the future of technology on a global scale could become even more pronounced. This could lead to collaborations with international partners, further enhancing the State's reputation as a hub for innovation.
In conclusion, Karnataka's ambitious 2029 tech plan is not just about numbers; it represents a vision for the future of the State's economy and its role in the global technology landscape. By fostering a collaborative environment between government and industry, Karnataka is positioning itself to be at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring that it remains a key player in the global economy.
To learn more about the latest developments in Events & Summits, stay updated with our exclusive reports and analyses on AiLensNews.
