Trump’s tariffs may hurt GCC economics, but MNCs finding value and talent in India: ANSR’s Vikram Ahuja

Vikram Ahuja, Co-Founder ANSR, CEO 1Wrk

US President Trump’s tariffs on Indian exports could impact the economics behind how MNCs operate their global capability centres (GCC) in India, according to Vikram Ahuja, co-founder of ANSR, a leading GCC establishment and management company, arguing it will make them even more strategic.

This comes at a time when India is in the midst of a GCC boom, and poised to add another 500 centres by 2030 from around 1,700 at present, potentially creating 9 lakh new jobs.

However, a recent US Halting International Relocation of Employment (HIRE) Bill, introduced by a private member in the US Senate, has proposed a 25 percent tax on payments made to foreign or outsourced workers by US-based firms and individuals.

GCC Boom Here to Stay?

Speaking to Moneycontrol, Ahuja said that the point of setting up a GCC is to have access to quality talent. “Cost is not the primary driver,” he added.

“So, while the tariffs will impact the economics of a GCC, it does not take away the fact that GCC provides incredibly talented professionals. Tariffs may impact GCCs in many ways but it's not like the GCC industry will die. In fact, GCCs then become even more strategic in terms of what they do,” Ahuja said.

According to ANSR’s Ahuja, it is still early days and one is yet to see any slowdown in client conversations, or delays in plans. He added that ANSR is gearing up to announce more GCCs in the near future.

Who are Setting up New GCCs?

GCCs are no longer a play only for the Fortune 500, as even big tech SaaS companies are setting up teams in India.

Several US technology giants have announced their India expansion plans in 2025, including Google, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI.

From major office leases in Hyderabad and Bengaluru to new engineering hubs and AI partnerships, India is quickly emerging as a critical part of global tech majors’ expansion plan.

“Big tech like all the others are continuing to grow and scale. There are some really attractive companies that are going to be launching soon, and some really exciting sort of jobs that are going to be coming from them,” Ahuja said, without divulging the names.

Moneycontrol had earlier reported that US MNCs will account for nearly 300-350 or 70 percent of the upcoming GCCs out of the 500 centres expected to come up in India by 2030.

India to Help with AI Talent Gap?

GCCs in India are rapidly emerging as hubs for enterprise AI, given the backdrop of global demand for AI talent is far ahead of the supply, with nearly 50 percent of the roles projected to go unfilled by 2025, according to ANSR.

As more companies around the world embrace AI, there is increasing internal focus on data readiness, cybersecurity and privacy, said Ahuja, adding more work is needed within organizations before they become AI ready.

One result of that is demand for roles that didn’t exist before. “So, there is also a big gap between demand and supply and that is really where this is. Even though IT companies are laying off mid- and senior employees…the kind of talent that is being let go by some of these services companies may or may not be able to fill the AI talent gap,” Ahuja said.