Unilever Weighs Hyderabad for Global Capability Centre as Telangana Pitches $3 Trillion Vision at Davos
By Cygnus | 21 Jan 2026
FMCG major Unilever is exploring the possibility of establishing a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad, potentially adding another global consumer-goods brand to the city’s expanding business services ecosystem.
The development follows a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026 between Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Willem Uijen, Unilever’s Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer, according to an official state government statement.
During the discussions, the Chief Minister pitched Hyderabad as a fast-rising hub for global capability centres, pointing to growing multinational interest in the city’s talent pool and digital infrastructure.
Telangana’s IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu said Hyderabad has already attracted capability centres of several global companies, citing McDonald’s newly launched global office in the city — reported as its largest such centre outside the United States.
Sustainability focus: water and plastics discussed
In its statement, the Telangana government said Unilever expressed interest in Hyderabad’s capability centre potential, particularly for supporting its global supply chain and operations, while also exploring alignment with sustainability priorities.
The discussions covered areas linked to Unilever’s environmental initiatives, including water and plastics reduction, alongside Telangana’s infrastructure and sustainability push.
Bharat Future City: UAE ties strengthened
Separately, Telangana said it advanced talks with the United Arab Emirates on the proposed Bharat Future City, a large-scale net-zero greenfield development planned on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Spread over 30,000 acres, the project is described by the state as a future-ready urban-industrial hub, and Telangana said a joint task force with UAE counterparts would be set up to support implementation and accelerate progress.
Telangana Rising 2047 pitch
The developments form part of Telangana’s broader “Telangana Rising 2047” roadmap, which aims to transform the state into a $3 trillion economy by 2047, with a strong focus on technology services, sustainable urban infrastructure and global investment partnerships.
Capping the Davos engagements, Telangana officials said the Chief Minister proposed that Hyderabad host a WEF follow-up forum in July each year, aimed at accelerating CEO-level investment discussions and shortening decision timelines.
Why This Matters
Unilever’s evaluation of Hyderabad for a GCC highlights a major shift underway in India’s services economy:
- GCCs are becoming core global operating hubs
Multinationals are increasingly using India not just for back-office work, but for strategic functions in operations, analytics, supply chain and digital transformation. - Hyderabad is intensifying competition among India’s GCC hubs
The city is positioning itself alongside Bengaluru, Pune and NCR with a strong pipeline of capability centre investments. - Future City projects signal the next investment cycle
Mega projects like Bharat Future City are designed to attract long-term global capital into industrial infrastructure, sustainability and urban development.
Summary
Unilever is exploring the possibility of establishing a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad, following discussions with the Telangana government at WEF Davos 2026. Telangana officials said talks also progressed with the UAE on the proposed 30,000-acre Bharat Future City, with a joint task force planned to accelerate implementation. The developments align with Telangana’s $3 trillion economy by 2047 roadmap.
FAQs
Q1: What is the status of Unilever’s Hyderabad GCC plan?
It is in the evaluation stage. Telangana officials said Unilever is exploring the possibility, but no investment MoU has been announced.
Q2: Why is Hyderabad being pitched as a GCC hub?
The state cites the city’s deep talent pool, strong digital ecosystem and increasing interest from global firms setting up global operations and services hubs.
Q3: What is Bharat Future City?
A proposed 30,000-acre net-zero greenfield city project near Hyderabad, pitched as a future-ready urban-industrial hub.
Q4: Is the UAE partnership confirmed?
Telangana said the UAE agreed to collaborate and proposed a joint task force to support implementation, as per official statements.