Scotland's First Minister Swinney visits GIFT City, eyes research and finance ties with Gujarat
Synopsis
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney brought an 11-member delegation to GIFT City and Gujarat Biotechnology University, flagging wind power cooperation, a potential University of Edinburgh partnership, and a cultural link through the 2030 Gujarat Commonwealth Games — signalling a quietly ambitious push to deepen Scotland-India ties well beyond traditional diplomatic channels.
Key Takeaways
John Swinney , Scotland's First Minister, visited GIFT City and Gujarat Biotechnology University in Gandhinagar on 24 October 2025 .
The 11-member Scottish delegation is on a four-day Gujarat visit from 22–25 October , focused on investment and bilateral cooperation.
GIFT City's 16 km underground utility tunnel network — of which 5.5 km is operational — was showcased to the delegation; Swinney reportedly praised the technology.
Discussions at Gujarat Biotechnology University covered a potential tie-up with the University of Edinburgh , with research in cancer and life sciences highlighted.
Swinney linked the Gujarat Commonwealth Games 2030 to a new Scotland-India cultural and sporting bridge, and highlighted clean energy and wind power cooperation opportunities along Gujarat's coastline.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney visited Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and Gujarat Biotechnology University in Gandhinagar on Friday, 24 October 2025, exploring opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation in financial services, education, scientific research, and clean energy. The visit forms part of a four-day trip to Gujarat running from 22 to 25 October, led by Swinney with an 11-member Scottish delegation.
GIFT City Briefing: Infrastructure and Financial Ecosystem
At GIFT City, the delegation received a detailed briefing on the financial and business hub's development and infrastructure. A highlight was the city's underground utility tunnel network, engineered to reduce repeated road excavation for maintenance and upgrades. The integrated system consolidates electricity cables, drinking water pipelines, district cooling pipelines, automated solid waste pipelines, and communication and automation cables in shared corridors, while sewage lines, stormwater drainage, and gas pipelines are routed through separate corridors for safety.
The network is monitored around the clock via a central control room using Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technology, which alerts maintenance teams to technical faults while minimising disruption to traffic and public spaces. GIFT City plans to develop 16 km of such tunnels in total; 5.5 km is currently operational, another 5.5 km is under construction, and the remaining stretch is planned for completion in phases. New buildings are connected to the network through their basements.
Swinney reportedly praised the technology underpinning the utility tunnels, according to the state government's account of the visit. The delegation also examined GIFT City's financial services offerings, investment opportunities, and export-related activities.
University Engagement: Edinburgh Partnership and Life Sciences
At Gujarat Biotechnology University, Swinney met students and faculty to discuss cooperation in education, research, and life sciences. A central focus was a potential partnership with the University of Edinburgh, of which Swinney is an alumnus. He drew on his own academic experience to underscore the value of cross-border research collaboration, particularly in addressing complex global health challenges such as cancer.
'Academic and research partnerships could help enrich scientific work and establish a stronger foundation for future relations between the two countries,' Swinney said. Professor Rakesh Rawal, Director-in-Charge, Dean (Academics), and Head of Medical Biotechnology at Gujarat Biotechnology University, was present during the visit.
Commonwealth Games 2030 and Clean Energy Potential
Broader ties — beyond finance and academia — also featured prominently. Referencing Glasgow's experience as a Commonwealth Games host city, Swinney pointed to the Gujarat Commonwealth Games 2030 as a potential new bridge between Scotland and India through culture and sport. 'The Games scheduled to be held in Gujarat in 2030 could create another link between Scotland and India through culture and sport,' he said.
On clean energy, Swinney highlighted cooperation opportunities in wind power, specifically citing Gujarat's extensive coastline as a strategic asset in the global push to address climate change — an area where Scotland has developed considerable offshore wind expertise.
Delegation Composition and Bilateral Significance
The delegation included Steve Hickling, British Deputy High Commissioner for Gujarat and Rajasthan; John Webster, the First Minister's principal private secretary; and Ross Ingebritsen, senior special adviser and head of communications for the Scottish Government. Swinney characterised the overall visit as reflecting 'Scotland's commitment to strengthening economic, educational and cultural ties with India.'
The four-day Gujarat programme is focused on the state's development initiatives and potential areas for investment and bilateral cooperation, with further engagements expected before the delegation departs on 25 October. How concrete agreements — particularly on the Edinburgh–Gujarat Biotechnology University tie-up and GIFT City financial partnerships — take shape will determine the long-term impact of the visit.
Point of View
Sidestepping the slower machinery of UK-India bilateral diplomacy. The Edinburgh–Gujarat Biotechnology University angle is the most substantive thread — if it materialises, it creates a research corridor in life sciences at a moment when both countries are investing heavily in biotech. The GIFT City showcase, meanwhile, is as much about Gujarat projecting its financial hub ambitions internationally as it is about any concrete Scottish investment commitment. The Commonwealth Games 2030 hook is clever optics, but the real test will be whether these exploratory conversations convert into signed agreements before the next Scottish government reshuffles its priorities.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Scotland's First Minister visit GIFT City in Gujarat?
John Swinney visited GIFT City on 24 October 2025 as part of a four-day Gujarat trip to explore bilateral cooperation in financial services, investment, education, scientific research, and clean energy. The visit was aimed at identifying concrete areas where Scotland and Gujarat could deepen economic and institutional ties.
What is GIFT City's underground utility tunnel network?
GIFT City's underground utility tunnel network is an integrated infrastructure system consolidating electricity, water, district cooling, solid waste, and communication pipelines in shared underground corridors, monitored 24/7 via SCADA technology. The city plans 16 km of such tunnels in total, with 5.5 km operational and another 5.5 km under construction.
What academic partnership was discussed during the Gujarat visit?
Discussions at Gujarat Biotechnology University covered potential collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, of which Swinney is an alumnus. The proposed partnership focuses on education, life sciences research, and tackling complex global health challenges such as cancer.
How does the Gujarat Commonwealth Games 2030 relate to Scotland?
Swinney drew a parallel between Glasgow's experience hosting the Commonwealth Games and Gujarat's upcoming 2030 Games, suggesting the event could create a new cultural and sporting link between Scotland and India. He framed it as an opportunity to build on existing bilateral goodwill.
Who accompanied John Swinney on the Gujarat visit?
The 11-member Scottish delegation included Steve Hickling (British Deputy High Commissioner for Gujarat and Rajasthan), John Webster (the First Minister's principal private secretary), and Ross Ingebritsen (senior special adviser and head of communications for the Scottish Government).
