GIFT City is focusing on expanding its presence in aircraft and ship leasing to strengthen its position as a global financial hub, said Sanjay Kaul, managing director and CEO of the financial services centre. This move comes as India's aviation market grows and airlines increase their aircraft order books, creating opportunities for domestic leasing and financing activities.
Historically, Indian airlines have conducted much of their aircraft leasing and financing through overseas financial centres, limiting domestic participation in this niche segment. GIFT City aims to capture a larger share of this business by offering competitive financial services tailored to the aviation sector. Kaul highlighted that the financial services centre is actively developing capabilities to attract more leasing transactions within India.
The expansion into aircraft and ship leasing aligns with GIFT City's broader strategy to diversify its financial services offerings and compete with established global hubs. This approach could reduce reliance on foreign centres for aircraft financing and support the growth of India's aviation industry. Comparable financial centres in regions like Singapore and Ireland dominate aircraft leasing, making GIFT City's ambitions significant for the domestic market.
Sanjay Kaul's comments were reported on September 12, 2026, by livemint.com, underscoring GIFT City's intent to leverage India's expanding aviation sector to enhance its global financial services footprint.