In a significant administrative decision, the Gujarat government has appointed Mr. Sanjay Kaul, a 2001-batch IAS officer of the Kerala cadre, as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), a flagship initiative envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project, located in Gandhinagar, is one of the Prime Minister’s top five priority projects and aims to develop India’s first international financial services and smart city hub.
Mr. Kaul succeeds Mr. Tapan Ray, who has retired. However, according to the General Administration Department of Gujarat, Mr. Ray will continue to serve in a caretaker capacity until Mr. Kaul formally assumes charge. The appointment is for an initial tenure of three years.
A Return to Gujarat for a Veteran Administrator
This marks Mr. Kaul’s second major stint in Gujarat. From February 2011 to May 2016, he served in the state on inter-state deputation, holding prominent roles such as Managing Director of Gujarat Tourism Corporation and Gujarat Informatics Ltd. During this period, he was also associated with the state’s Home, Finance, Industries, and Science & Technology departments. Notably, Mr. Kaul was born and brought up in Vadodara, Gujarat.
The Gujarat government had made a formal request to the Centre last month to appoint Mr. Kaul to this key position. His familiarity with the region and his extensive experience in governance are seen as major assets for spearheading the strategic vision of GIFT City, which aspires to become a global fintech hub.
An Impressive Administrative Career Across Kerala, Gujarat, and the Centre
Mr. Kaul has built an illustrious administrative career spanning grassroots governance, strategic state roles, and key central assignments. In his home cadre of Kerala, he has served as District Collector of Thiruvananthapuram and headed crucial departments such as Home & Vigilance, Finance (Expenditure), Industries & Commerce, Ports, Power, Tax & Registration, and Food & Civil Supplies. He also served as the Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala, overseeing state-wide electoral processes.
He has chaired and led several important public sector undertakings, including Kerala Financial Corporation, KSIDC, KELTRON, and Travancore-Cochin Chemicals Ltd., reflecting deep involvement in industrial and financial governance.
At the central level, Mr. Kaul was appointed Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Culture in September 2024. There, he managed international cultural relations, UNESCO coordination, and institutions like The Asiatic Society and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies.
New Phase for GIFT City Under Kaul’s Leadership
With his appointment as MD & CEO of GIFT City, Mr. Kaul is expected to bring visionary leadership and administrative depth to one of India’s most ambitious urban development projects. Notably, GIFT City is the only location in Gujarat where alcohol consumption is permitted with a license, after prohibition rules were amended in December 2023 to attract foreign investors and foster an international lifestyle.
Mr. Kaul’s unique combination of Gujarat roots, Kerala cadre experience, and central government exposure positions him ideally to lead GIFT City into its next phase of global relevance, financial dynamism, and urban innovation.
