The visit was also an opportunity to identify potential avenues for education, research and innovation that match UvA expertise.

GIFT City in brief

GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) is India’s flagship International Financial Services Centre near Ahmedabad. Within a compact area, it brings together international banks, the National Stock Exchange’s international exchange (NSE IX), insurers, fund managers, fintech firms, infrastructure developers, several international universities and the regulator IFSCA (International Financial Services Centres Authority).
India aims to increase GIFT City’s current workforce of about 15,000 to well over 100,000. New office towers, utility tunnels, cooling systems and digital infrastructure are under rapid development. For UvA EB, this offers a concentrated view of how a new financial and regulatory hub is built.

Strengthening ties between India and the Netherlands

The exploratory visit by UvA Economics and Business took place in the same month that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to the Netherlands from 15 to 17 May 2026. During that visit, India and the Netherlands elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership, with a focus on cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, renewable energy and education. This broader context underlines the growing importance of academic, economic and technological collaboration between institutions in both countries.

Meetings with key institutions

During the visit, the delegation met with IFSCA representatives. They also spoke with senior leadership from HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, NSE IX, PwC, BeFree Global, major infrastructure developers and international universities active in GIFT City. At the NSE International Exchange, Dean Beetsma rang the ceremonial bell. It marked the first formal presence of the University of Amsterdam in this international financial centre.

Strong demand for executive education

Across banking, financial services and technology firms, one message was consistent. There is a strong need for executive education and upskilling in areas such as AI, data and analytics, risk management, compliance, financial regulation, sustainable finance and ESG, and cross-border financial expertise. These topics closely match existing expertise at UvA Economics and Business and could form the basis for tailored programmes for professionals in GIFT City.

Research opportunities in a live ecosystem

GIFT City brings regulators, exchanges, banks and fintechs into close proximity, creating rich opportunities for researchers in economics, finance, digital transformation, responsible AI and business administration. Possible directions include joint research on financial stability, market design and digital assets, as well as studies of how regulation and governance develop in a new financial centre. There is also scope for collaboration with IFSCA and industry partners on policy questions that connect academic insight with regulatory and market practice. Stakeholders expressed clear interest in research partnerships and industry linked teaching that fit this context.

Potential benefits for students

The visit also highlighted potential benefits for UvA students and recent graduates. Internships and project-based collaborations with institutions in GIFT City could give students direct exposure to international financial practice. Case based teaching and guest lectures drawing on GIFT City examples can bring real world questions into the classroom. In the longer term, joint modules with universities active in the district may offer additional international learning opportunities. These options will be examined further in the coming period.

Next steps

In a rapidly developing international financial ecosystem, careful on-site exploration is essential before shaping future collaboration. During this visit, the delegation saw promising possibilities in executive education, research collaboration, industry-linked teaching and student opportunities. These will now be examined carefully, with academic quality, alignment with UvA values, and long-term strategic fit as guiding principles.

For UvA EB, the visit to GIFT City is a starting point for further exploration. Somendra Narayan reflects, 'GIFT City gave us a clear sense of both the opportunity and the responsibility involved. It is a fast-developing ecosystem with strong demand for knowledge, talent, and research. The next step is to carefully explore where UvA Economics and Business may be able to contribute in ways that are academically strong, practically relevant and institutionally responsible.'