Gandhinagar: Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s first smart city and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), recently hosted a Talent Summit at IIT Gandhinagar to address the growing talent needs and promote workforce development to support GIFT City’s expanding business ecosystem in Gujarat.

The summit, titled “GIFT City: The Emerging Talent Frontier,” brought together industry leaders, government officials, and academics to discuss strategies for building a skilled workforce in Gujarat. Key attendees included Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, Chairman of GIFT City; Mr. Tapan Ray, MD and Group CEO of GIFT City; K Rajaraman, Chairman of IFSCA; and Mr. Banchhanidhi Pani, Commissioner of Technical Education and CEO of the Gujarat Knowledge Society (GKS).

Top executives from companies such as BNY, Capgemini, IBM, Wayfair, KPMG, Maersk, and PWC also participated, sharing insights on aligning workforce strategies with evolving technological and market demands.

Mr. Tapan Ray emphasized the summit’s role in addressing the changing workforce landscape, stating, “As businesses continue to grow, aligning our talent strategies is essential to ensure the availability of top-tier talent. GIFT City is committed to fostering an environment where both professionals and businesses can thrive, and this summit has provided crucial insights to strengthen those efforts.”

LinkedIn also presented state-specific workforce data, with Ms. Ruchee Anand, India Country Head for LinkedIn Talent and Learning Solutions, highlighting Gujarat’s rise in AI-skilled professionals. She stressed the importance of adopting a skills-first hiring approach to meet the state’s growing digital and technological needs.

The summit featured two key panel discussions. The first, “Developing a Talent Pool for the World,” focused on the evolving talent requirements as Global Capability Centres (GCCs) advance. Industry leaders from BNY, Capgemini, IBM, Wayfair, and KPMG discussed opportunities, challenges, workforce diversity, and strategies to attract Gen Z and partner with start-ups to foster innovation.

The second panel, “Building a Long-Term Talent Supply Chain,” addressed best practices for industry-academia collaboration, curriculum development, and the experiences of companies that have scaled operations in GIFT City. Representatives from BGSS, Maersk, PWC, LTI Mindtree, and others highlighted the importance of training, skill development, sustainable compensation practices, and avoiding infrastructure challenges as GIFT City grows. DeshGujarat