Coimbatore could add about 125 global capability centres (GCCs) by 2032, taking its ecosystem from approximately 75 centres today to nearly 200, according to a report released by EY and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The projection places the city at the centre of India’s growing shift towards expanding corporate operations beyond established metropolitan hubs.
The report estimates that annual GCC growth in Coimbatore could increase from 10%-12% in the initial years to 24%-27% by 2032. Overall, the ecosystem is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 21% during the period.
A key driver identified in the report is the “Metro+1” strategy, under which enterprises diversify their GCC locations beyond major metropolitan centres. Coimbatore is expected to benefit from companies seeking alternative locations with access to skilled talent, lower operational complexity and greater workforce stability.
The city’s existing GCCs could also help attract competitors, suppliers and industry peers, the report said. Domestic companies, particularly those based in southern India, may establish internal capability centres in Coimbatore as the local ecosystem expands.
The report identified engineering talent, industrial strengths, workforce stability and the city’s innovation ecosystem as factors supporting this growth. Coimbatore’s established industrial base is therefore being positioned as an advantage in attracting technology, engineering and business operations linked to global companies.
However, the projected expansion also exposes limitations in the city’s current urban and commercial capacity. The report flagged a shortage of senior talent, connectivity constraints, limited Grade A office space and wider urban infrastructure challenges as obstacles that could affect the ecosystem’s ability to scale.
The availability of office space and transport connectivity will be particularly important as GCCs move beyond small or specialised teams. The report noted that some existing centres in Coimbatore have already grown to more than 1,000 employees, indicating that the city is capable of supporting larger mandates but will need broader ecosystem development to replicate that success.
Manoj Marwah, partner and GCC markets leader at EY India, said Coimbatore had moved beyond the conventional definition of a second-tier city. “The fact that some GCCs have scaled to over 1,000 employees demonstrates the potential to build and sustain larger mandates. The next phase is about replicating this success across the ecosystem. With coordinated execution, the city could emerge as one of India’s most distinctive GCC destinations by 2032,” he said.
V Noushad, chairperson of the CII Coimbatore Zone and managing director of Walkaroo International, said global enterprises were increasingly seeking talent, resilience and specialised capabilities beyond traditional metro locations. He said Coimbatore was well placed to play a larger role in India’s GCC growth.
The report’s projection makes the city’s next phase dependent not only on attracting companies but also on expanding the urban systems that support them. The identified constraints include the availability of senior professionals, quality office stock, city connectivity and infrastructure. The report’s 2032 estimate will therefore be measured against the city’s ability to address these requirements as the GCC ecosystem expands.