Jammu, Oct 10 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir's prospects of attracting Global Capability Centres (GCCs) took centre stage at a two-day summit that concluded at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu on Saturday, with industry leaders and policymakers identifying skilled manpower, digital infrastructure and investment facilitation as key requirements for bringing global technology operations to the Union Territory.

The J&K GCC Summit 2026, organised by IIM Jammu in collaboration with the Jammu and Kashmir government and NASSCOM, examined how the region could position itself as a destination for multinational companies seeking to establish technology, research, analytics and other specialised business operations outside India's established metropolitan hubs.

The discussions focused on the growing potential of Tier-2 and Tier-3 locations, particularly in attracting technology-driven investments and creating employment opportunities for skilled professionals.

The concluding session was attended virtually by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, while Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, NIIT Chairman Rajendra Singh Pawar, IIM Jammu Director Prof B S Sahay and senior government officials, industry executives and academic representatives participated in the proceedings.

A major focus of the summit was the changing nature of employment in GCCs as artificial intelligence increasingly reshapes entry-level technology and business roles.

During a panel on talent and workforce transformation, industry representatives said conventional academic qualifications would need to be supplemented with practical skills, particularly the ability to assess, validate and work with AI-generated outputs.

The participants called for closer coordination between educational institutions and employers to address skill gaps and prepare graduates for emerging industry requirements.

Labour and Employment Secretary Kumar Rajeev Ranjan joined the discussion alongside representatives from KPMG, Northern Trust, Marsh, Giesecke & Devrient, Zydus Lifesciences and other companies.

The panel also examined recruitment and employee retention challenges, with speakers emphasising that infrastructure, professional opportunities and a supportive business environment would be necessary to attract and retain skilled workers in Jammu and Kashmir.

Another discussion focused on how cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and secure digital infrastructure could enable technology companies to establish operations in smaller cities.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

The panel, moderated by Sachin Punyani of Amazon Web Services India, included J&K IT Secretary Rahul Yadav and representatives from KPMG, Dixon Technologies, Carelon Global Solutions and technology enterprises.

Participants said specialised talent pools, Centres of Excellence and partnerships between industry and academic institutions could help emerging locations compete for technology investments.

They also emphasised that reliable digital connectivity and secure infrastructure would be essential for companies handling sophisticated global operations.

A separate panel, moderated by NASSCOM's Kritika Murugesan, examined the roadmap for making Jammu and Kashmir a competitive GCC destination.

The discussion brought together representatives from Zoho Corporation's ManageEngine, CoRover.ai, Consilio, QNu Labs and other organisations to examine investment facilitation, physical and digital connectivity, sector-specific opportunities and policy support.

Participants stressed the need for coordinated action by government agencies, educational institutions and private companies to develop an ecosystem capable of attracting international businesses.

The summit also highlighted the importance of identifying sectors in which Jammu and Kashmir could build specialised capabilities rather than relying solely on conventional outsourcing opportunities.

Speakers said the availability of trained professionals, industry-linked educational programmes and appropriate infrastructure would be critical to translating the region's potential into sustained investment and employment.

The two-day event brought together policymakers, technology specialists, entrepreneurs, human resource professionals and academic representatives to discuss industry-government collaboration, innovation, workforce development and the requirements of global companies.

The concluding deliberations identified talent development, technology adoption, enabling policies and sustained institutional cooperation as central to Jammu and Kashmir's ambitions in the GCC sector.

However, the summit statement did not announce any confirmed GCC investment, new centre, employment commitment or implementation timeline arising from the discussions.

The proposed roadmap is intended to guide future efforts to attract global companies and develop higher-value employment opportunities in the Union Territory. (KNS)