Tamil Nadu tops SEZ charts, emerges as fastest-growing GCC and data centre hub

Tamil Nadu tops SEZ charts, rises as fastest-growing GCC and data centre hub

Tamil Nadu is rapidly cementing its position as India’s newest magnet for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), with over 250 centres now operating across the state and Chennai alone commanding nearly 10 percent of the country’s total GCC stock, according to a new FICCI–ANAROCK report.

The state’s tech and R&D ecosystem—home to over 750 electronic R&D institutes, the highest number of operational SEZs in India (54), and a robust network of industrial parks—is propelling a fresh wave of real estate and infrastructure growth.

As Chennai and Coimbatore emerge among the country’s top GCC destinations and key data-centre hubs, Tier-II cities such as Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli, Madurai and Salem are increasingly sharing the spotlight, signalling a decisive dispersion of economic activity beyond the state capital.

The report, which was released on December 11, underscores that Chennai alone now hosts 10 percent of India’s GCCs. After Chennai, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu ranks among the top tier-2 cities for setting up GCCs in India.

Bhupesh Nagarajan, Co-chairman – FICCI Tamil Nadu State Council & CMD – Indira Group of Companies, said that beyond industrialization, infrastructure has been pivotal in driving Tamil Nadu’s economic growth.

“Expanding airports, seaports, industrial corridors, logistics parks, expressways, and metro networks are strengthening connectivity within and beyond the state. As these developments ease mobility and trade, these are reshaping the state’s economic geography, opening new business corridors, and linking remote regions to major growth centres.

The report further highlighted that Chennai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region continue to be hotspots for data centre operators, together contributing over 70 percent of India’s total data centre stock. Besides Chennai, Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore and Madurai are upcoming data centre hubs.

Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Group, said that Tamil Nadu leans heavily on its major strengths, which include industrial diversification, infrastructure expansion, and human capital development.

“Key Tier-II cities such as Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, and Salem have also witnessed rising potential-driven interest. Their evolution into meaningful economic centres reflects the increasingly distributed nature of growth across the districts of Tamil Nadu beyond Chennai,” he said.