In a sign of tier-2 India’s growing weight in the country’s technology exports, Indore’s SEZs posted double-digit growth this fiscal year, driven by AI adoption and expanding orders from Europe and the Middle East.
Indore, now among the most dynamic non-metro tech hubs, is seeing a sharp rise in software and IT-enabled services exports as companies deepen their AI capabilities and scale operations across new global markets. Data from the SEZ development commissioner’s office shows exports from the city’s five SEZs rose 10.75 percent from April to October 2025, reaching Rs 2,413.61 crore compared to Rs 2,179 crore a year earlier. The main IT SEZ, which houses about 22 IT and ITES units, continues to anchor this growth, supported by nearly 300 IT firms that now make up about 70 per cent of Madhya Pradesh’s technology base.
Siddharth Sethi, co-founder of Infobeans, said AI significantly expanded demand for high-value digital services. “AI has created a wide range of opportunities, and this is the right time to build capabilities. We are retraining teams extensively to integrate AI into our services.
Despite global headwinds, the sector continues moving in the right direction,” he said. Industry watchers say the trend reflects a broader shift where mid-sized IT centres are stepping into roles once dominated by metros. IT business coach Vikas Singh said tier 2 hubs such as Indore are benefiting from a structural change in global outsourcing. “Indore’s ability to embed AI into mainstream services is setting a new benchmark. Companies here are now bidding for higher-value digital transformation mandates,” he said.
Indore-based firms continue to rely on the United States as their largest market but are expanding rapidly into Europe and the UAE as enterprises accelerate cloud, cybersecurity, and AI-led modernisation. Singh said this diversification helps reduce concentration risk and strengthens global positioning.
Company performance data captures the city’s widening capabilities. Impetus Infotech posted an 86 per cent jump in exports, rising to Rs 427 crore from Rs 229.87 crore. Infosys recorded 21.59 percent growth, while Yash Technologies saw a 26.39 percent rise to Rs 54.40 crore. Exports from Crystal IT Park fell 14.60 percent to Rs 288.18 crore, and TCS slipped 2.1 percent to Rs 1,084 crore.
Officials say Indore’s rise as a credible national IT hub is supported by improved connectivity, strong engineering talent from institutions such as IIT Indore, and investor interest from startups and export-focused firms. Analysts say the city’s climb highlights how tier 2 centres are emerging as innovation-driven digital hubs contributing increasingly to India’s global IT footprint.
