In 2015, India set up its first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in the newly established Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), in the western state of Gujarat. The GIFT IFSC initially offered business opportunities in diverse financial areas including banking, capital markets, insurance, asset management, and ancillary services. In 2015, the Indian regulators allowed the setting up of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) in GIFT IFSC. Since then, many tax incentives have been rolled out by the Government of India to promote fund activities in GIFT IFSC.
In a recent development, capital gains from non-equity investments made by a Category III AIFs set up in IFSC have been exempted from tax in the hands of the AIF and its investors. Tax exemption is further extended to transfer of units of the AIF between investors.
This is a significant move and would enable GIFT IFSC to compete with popular offshore fund jurisdictions such as Singapore and Mauritius.
Please join Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP for an interactive discussion on the framework and opportunities for setting up fund structures in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC).
We will discuss:
• A brief update on the GIFT IFSC ecosystem, stakeholders, key tax and regulatory aspects, and recent developments
• Opportunities and issues for a fund in GIFT IFSC
• How do the recent changes compare GIFT IFSC with key offshore jurisdictions such as Singapore and Mauritius?
Moderator:
• Monish Shah, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP
Subject matter experts:
• Arjun Prasad, Deputy General Manager, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)
• Sandip Shah, Head – IFSC Department, GIFT City
• Rajesh Gandhi