Mangaluru
To promote IT growth in India’s Silicon Beach, stakeholders are focusing on attracting Global Capability Centres (GCC) to the coastal region. This topic was a key discussion point at Mangaluru Technovanza-2024.
GCCs are offshore or nearshore centers that provide services such as software development, IT services, and engineering to parent companies. During a panel discussion titled ‘What Mangaluru Needs to Do to Become a Strong Bengaluru+1 Contender,’ experts emphasized the need to establish Mangaluru as a strategic alternative for Bengaluru-based companies and GCCs.
The panel, moderated by Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, included Anuj Agrawal (CEO, Zyoin Group), Priya Prabhu (Director-HR, Moss Adams India), Jacob Buchardt (Vice-President, EG A/S), and Ajay Verma (Managing Director, BDO RISE). They highlighted that the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, and Kodagu districts have top educational institutions that nurture a rich talent pool.
The region is recognized for its entrepreneurship, having birthed several companies, including banks. It also boasts a strong presence in software, fintech, and data centers that serve clients globally. For instance, Karkala, a small town in Udupi, recently established a data center servicing the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Priya Prabhu noted that Mangaluru has employable talent with a positive attitude. While companies often gravitate toward Bengaluru despite challenges like traffic and flooding, tier-two cities like Mangaluru experience lower attrition rates and higher employee retention.
