Centre of Excellence in GIFT IFSC

Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Limited” (GIFTCL) with collaboration of the Institute of Advanced Research, has established a Centre of Excellence in International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). The center is working under the aegis of IAR’s School of Business and Management (SBM). This pioneering Centre is dedicated to promoting academic excellence, structured learning, and industry-relevant research in the area of international financial services, with a focus on India’s premier GIFT IFSC.

The Centre is dedicated host a dedicated knowledge platform, offering curated resources, research material, and updates on global financial regulations. Under this initiative, students of BBA and MBA are being offered specialized academic modules on GIFT IFSC, equipping students with real-time insights into global finance. In addition, the Centre shall be tracking regulatory frameworks, publish timely updates, and organize expert sessions, guest lectures, and workshops with key industry stakeholders.

The Centre of Excellence is envisioned to emerge as a national model for knowledge dissemination and capacity-building in international financial services, bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world financial systems.

> Acknowledgement of CoE – GIFT IFSC

About GIFT

The GIFT International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC) is a financial centre and special economic zone in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) established in April 2015 as a financial hub to provide world-class infrastructure and services for financial institutions and companies operating in areas such as banking, insurance, capital markets, and asset management. GIFT IFSC is regulated by the International Financial Services Centres Authority, an independent regulator exclusive to the zone.

It was established in the year 2007 by the Government of Gujarat. The GIFT project was first proposed in the year 2007, when the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, announced the establishment of an international financial services centre in Gujarat. The project was initiated with the aim of creating a world-class financial hub that could compete with the likes of London, New York, and Hong Kong

The foundation stone for the GIFT project was laid on 28 January 2011, by the then Finance Minister of India, Pranab Mukherjee, and the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi. The first phase of the GIFT project was completed in the year 2017, with the construction of 10 buildings, including two iconic towers – GIFT One and GIFT Two. GIFT One is a 28-storey tower, while GIFT Two is a 29-storey tower. The GIFT project has been developed as a special economic zone (SEZ) under the SEZ Act, 2005. It is spread over an area of 359 hectares (886 acres) and has been designed as a self-contained city with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including a dedicated power plant, water treatment plant, and an underground utility tunnel.

Visit link : GIFT City

MoU with Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Limited (GIFTCL)

In a significant step towards academic-industry collaboration, IAR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Limited (GIFTCL). This strategic partnership aims to foster the exchange of knowledge, insights, and best practices between India’s leading financial services ecosystem and the academic community.

Through this MoU, IAR and GIFTCL will jointly work on curriculum development, knowledge sharing, regulatory awareness, and industry engagement initiatives. The collaboration will also enable students and faculty to gain exposure to emerging trends, career pathways, and research opportunities in the international financial services sector.

This partnership reinforces IAR’s commitment to aligning its academic programs with India’s economic vision and global financial aspirations.

> MoU Document

Digital Repository- IFSC

Booklet

Reports

Events of the CoE

As part of the ongoing collaboration between IAR and GIFTCL, multiple guest lectures and expert sessions have been organized, featuring senior professionals and thought leaders from GIFT IFSC as well as from the broader international finance industry. These sessions have provided students with first-hand insights into global financial markets, regulatory practices, fintech innovations, and emerging career opportunities within the IFSC ecosystem. Such interactive engagements are a key pillar of the Centre’s vision to bridge classroom learning with industry realities and to nurture future-ready finance professionals. In current academic year, following sessions were organised :

Expert Name	Designation	Title of the Talk
Mr. Ramya Pandya	Company Secretary, GIFT Power Company Limited	Corporate Governance in Financial Hubs like GIFT City
Ms. Ketki Mehta	Partner, CAM, Financial Services, GIFT	Legal Aspects of IFSC
Shri Nitesh Jaiswal	NSE IX Head Business Development	Regulatory Systems and Global Finance Operations
Ms. Vasudha Khandelwal	Principal Officer, Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Limited	Workshop on Alternate Investment Funds (AIFs)
Mr. Vivek Srivastava	CEO, GIFT City IBU at Axis Bank	International Banking and GIFT City’s Global Role
Mr. Sandeep Shah	Head of IFSC at GIFT City	Evolution of IFSCs and Fintech Trends
Prof. Lubna Sugarwala	Faculty, Gardi University	Workshop on Communication Skills and Personality Enhancement
Prof. Kapil Kumar Kella	Faculty, Filmmaker, Branding Expert	Workshop on Effective Sales and Marketing Strategies for Entrepreneurs
CA Kanish Mehta	Chartered Accountant and Start-up Mentor	Accelerators Incubation: Opportunities for Students and Faculties – Early Stage Entrepreneurs