GIFT City fintech partnership brings big hope for youth
Newzdaddy Business Updates
GIFT City and Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management Join Hands to Develop Fintech and International Finance Talent for IFSC
To strengthen talent in India’s financial sector, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Arun Jaitley National Institute of Financial Management (AJNIFM). This partnership will work under the GIFT International Fintech Institute. It will focus on building skills, academic collaboration, and sharing knowledge in international finance, governance, and financial technology. This partnership has been done to connect modern financial education with the new needs of the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) at GIFT City, which is India’s only IFSC.
GIFT City is a special financial zone built between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The Government of India created IFSC here to bring global financial services into the country. Earlier, many Indian companies went to places like Dubai, Singapore, and London for international finance work. Now, GIFT City is helping bring that work back to India. Today, many banks, insurance companies, and financial firms have opened offices there. The centre allows services in foreign currency and follows global standards. This makes it easier for India to compete with top financial hubs around the world.
AJNIFM is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It has strong experience in policy-based financial education and skill development. It trains officers of the Government Financial and Accounts Services. It also provides postgraduate and executive programmes in finance, management, and public policy. The institute was earlier known as the National Institute of Financial Management and was renamed to honour former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Over the years, it has trained thousands of government officers. These officers help manage public money, taxation, and budgets. This makes AJNIFM an important pillar in India’s financial system.
As part of this MoU, a five-day industry immersion programme has started at GIFT City for second-year MBA students of AJNIFM. This programme gives them exposure to regulatory systems, cross-border financial services, digital finance innovations, capital market operations, and organisational strategies. It shows how GIFT City is growing as a global financial hub. Such immersion programmes are becoming more important because the finance world is changing fast. Digital payments, online banking, and fintech platforms are now common. India itself has seen huge growth in digital payments through systems like UPI. Students need real industry exposure so they can understand how global finance works in real life, not just in classrooms.
Mr Sanjay Kaul, Managing Director and Group CEO of GIFT City, said, “Our partnership with AJNIFM shows GIFT City’s strong commitment to improving collaboration between industry and education. It also helps to strengthen skill development in international financial services and fintech. Through programmes like the industry immersion programme, we aim to prepare skilled professionals who can contribute to India’s IFSC ecosystem and global financial markets.” His statement comes at a time when GIFT City is expanding quickly. In recent years, the number of registered companies there has grown sharply. The centre is also seeing growth in aircraft leasing, global banking, and fund management. These sectors need trained people who understand international rules and finance systems.
Mr Praveen Kumar, Director of AJNIFM, said, “This collaboration with GIFT City creates a strategic partnership to design and provide advanced postgraduate education in finance and governance. This partnership will encourage faculty and student exchange. It will strengthen collaborative learning. It will also help both institutions improve their expertise in finance and governance.” Faculty exchange allows teachers to share their real industry knowledge with students. This helps students learn practical skills. It also helps teachers stay updated with new global trends. Around the world, top finance schools follow this model to prepare students for global careers.
This MoU also provides a framework for joint research, executive education, faculty exchange, and knowledge platforms. It will support talent development and innovation as GIFT City expands its role in global finance and fintech. Research plays a big role in improving financial systems. It helps find better ways to manage money, reduce risk, and improve services. Executive education will also help working professionals upgrade their skills. This is important because fintech is changing finance quickly through tools like artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital banking.
India is already one of the fastest-growing fintech markets in the world. Many Indian fintech companies are now serving global customers. With centres like GIFT City and support from institutes like AJNIFM, India is preparing its youth for global finance careers. Experts believe such partnerships will help India become a major financial power in the coming years. GIFT City is not just building offices and towers. It is building the next generation of finance professionals who will represent India on the global stage.
