- Axis Trustee expands presence in India’s international financial hub to serve domestic and cross-border transactions
- New office to support debt capital markets, facility agency, security trusteeship, AIFs and escrow services
- IFSCA’s Pradeep Ramakrishnan underscores evolving opportunities in cross-border structures and fund platforms
- Company eyes next phase of growth as GIFT City attracts global institutions, funds and international capital
NE ECONOMIC BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, JULY 25
As GIFT City evolves from India’s international finance ambition into a functioning global capital gateway, the next big question is not merely how much capital it can attract — but whether it has the governance, fiduciary and institutional infrastructure to handle increasingly sophisticated cross-border transactions.
Axis Trustee Services Limited (ATSL), one of India’s leading trustee and fiduciary services providers, has strengthened its presence in the financial hub with the inauguration of a new office at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), signalling a long-term commitment to India’s expanding international financial services ecosystem.
The new office is expected to bring Axis Trustee closer to financial institutions, issuers, fund managers and investors operating within the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), while strengthening the company’s ability to provide specialised trustee, agency and fiduciary solutions for domestic and cross-border transactions.
The office was inaugurated in the presence of Pradeep Ramakrishnan, Executive Director, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA); Bipin Saraf, Chairman, Axis Trustee Services Limited; and Rahul Choudhary, Managing Director & CEO, Axis Trustee Services Limited.
From debt markets to cross-border structures
The GIFT City office will support Axis Trustee’s growing portfolio across Debt Capital Markets, Facility Agency, Security Trustees, Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) and Escrow Agency services.
It will also enable the company to pursue emerging opportunities within the IFSC ecosystem, including cross-border financial structures and specialised fiduciary solutions.
The expansion comes at a time when GIFT City is attracting increasing participation from global financial institutions, investment funds and international capital-market participants.
For trustees and fiduciary-service providers, this growing ecosystem creates demand for independent governance, regulatory expertise, transaction oversight and technology-enabled execution.
“GIFT City is becoming an important gateway for global capital”
The inauguration was followed by a roundtable conclave featuring a keynote address by Pradeep Ramakrishnan, Executive Director, IFSCA.
Senior industry participants discussed the evolving opportunities within the IFSC ecosystem, the growth of cross-border structures and fund platforms, and the importance of strong governance and fiduciary frameworks in supporting the next phase of GIFT City’s development.
“GIFT City is becoming an important gateway for global capital and international financial services. Our presence here reflects our long-term commitment to supporting this growth through strong governance, trusted fiduciary services and deep regulatory expertise,” said Bipin Saraf, Chairman, Axis Trustee Services.
“We believe this expansion will enable us to serve clients more effectively while contributing to India’s emergence as a globally competitive financial centre,” he added.
Technology and regulatory expertise to drive next growth phase
The company believes the growing sophistication of financial products and cross-border structures will increase demand for trustee partners that can combine regulatory knowledge with efficient, technology-driven execution.
“This expansion brings us closer to clients operating within India’s international financial ecosystem,” said Rahul Choudhary, Managing Director & CEO, Axis Trustee Services.
“As financial products and cross-border structures become more sophisticated, clients increasingly require trustee partners who combine regulatory expertise with technology-driven execution. Our GIFT City office strengthens that capability and positions us well for the next phase of growth,” he added.
The expansion is expected to help Axis Trustee play a larger role in enabling innovative financial structures and delivering governance-led fiduciary solutions aligned with evolving market and regulatory requirements.
GIFT City’s next test: building trust around global capital
GIFT City’s growth story is increasingly moving beyond physical infrastructure and financial incentives. Its long-term success will depend on the creation of a complete ecosystem encompassing capital, regulation, governance, technology, professional services and investor confidence.
Axis Trustee’s expanded presence adds another layer to that ecosystem.
As international funds, institutions and capital-market participants increasingly explore India-linked cross-border opportunities, specialised fiduciary and trustee services could become an important component of the financial infrastructure supporting GIFT City’s global ambitions.
