Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha outlines a five-year roadmap to attract multinational companies, strengthen technology talent and expand the region's innovation ecosystem.
Jammu and Kashmir is seeking to position itself as an emerging destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), supported by its expanding startup ecosystem, improving infrastructure and growing pool of technology professionals, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said at the J&K Global Capability Centre Summit 2026.
Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day summit in Jammu on October 10, Sinha highlighted the region's potential to attract multinational companies looking to establish technology, innovation and business operations outside India's traditional metropolitan hubs.
The summit was organised by IIM Jammu, NASSCOM and partner institutions, bringing together policymakers, industry representatives and academic leaders to discuss opportunities for GCC development in the Union Territory.
Sinha noted that India currently hosts more than 2,100 GCCs, employing over 19 lakh professionals and contributing significantly to the country's exports. He said the expansion of these centres into Tier-II and Tier-III cities presents an opportunity for Jammu and Kashmir to participate in India's growing enterprise technology ecosystem.
Highlighting the region's entrepreneurial development, Sinha said the number of registered startups in Jammu and Kashmir has increased from 69 in 2020 to 1,305 in 2026, representing growth of more than 1,800%.
He attributed the expansion to infrastructure improvements, enhanced connectivity and initiatives aimed at encouraging industrial investment.
According to Sinha, institutions including IIM Jammu, IIT Jammu and NIT Srinagar could support the development of a skilled workforce capable of meeting the requirements of multinational enterprises.
The Lieutenant Governor identified six advantages for potential GCC investors, including financial support, lower operating costs, incentives for early multinational entrants, opportunities for local professionals to return to the region, first-mover benefits and the development of specialised technology sectors.
He highlighted agri-tech, tourism-tech and handicraft digitisation as areas where Jammu and Kashmir could develop differentiated capabilities rather than compete solely on operational costs.
Sinha also presented a four-pillar roadmap for the next five years, focusing on industry-academia partnerships, reliable implementation of investment commitments, the region's competitive advantages and inclusive economic development.
The proposed approach includes a hub-and-spoke model intended to distribute economic opportunities across different locations rather than concentrating investment in a single urban centre.
He further noted that GCCs have evolved beyond cost-efficient support operations into centres responsible for advanced capabilities, technology development and innovation.
The summit was attended by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, NIIT Chairman Rajendra Singh Pawar, IIM Jammu Director B.S. Sahay and other industry and academic representatives.
While the administration outlined its ambitions to attract global enterprises, specific investment commitments, confirmed GCC projects and implementation timelines were not announced during the address.
The proposed expansion forms part of Jammu and Kashmir's efforts to strengthen its technology services ecosystem and create employment opportunities through multinational investment and industry-academia collaboration.
Based on the October 10 summit address reported by Daily Excelsior. The startup and GCC figures are attributed to the Lieutenant Governor.
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