Abstract: India’s rise as a service leader in exports has been fueled in large part by the emergence of Global Capability Centers (GCCs), which have traditionally concentrated in metropolitan centers such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune. With India’s recent widening of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the UAE and Australia, there is a latent potential for non-metro states like UP to become part of the global service economy. This research critically assesses UP’s prospects as a destination for future GCC investments by reviewing its infrastructure, policy environment, digital preparedness, and human capital capabilities. Although UP has strengths, including an ample pool of talent, expressway connectivity, and forward-looking state policies, it also faces structural issues, such as low digital adoption levels and a lack of investor perception. The analysis utilizes secondary data and a SWOT analysis to assess UP’s readiness, and it suggests strategic interventions in the form of policy reforms, FTA alignment, and digital skills development. The results show that UP has the potential to emerge as a competitive GCC hub if it aligns state-level capabilities with India’s changing global trade system.
Yadava et al. (Tue,) studied this question.