Despite global uncertainties triggered by recent US tariffs, India’s commercial real estate market—particularly in Hyderabad—remains resilient and largely unaffected in the near term. This was the key takeaway from IKON 2025, an industry event organised by iKeva, a Hyderabad-based provider of flexible workspaces.

Inaugurating the event, Ms. Archana Naidu, Board Member and Head of Business at iKeva, said, “We are proud to present IKON 2025, a first-of-its-kind platform in India that brings together thought leaders in commercial real estate. Our aim is to foster meaningful dialogue around emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges in the sector.”

The expert panel included Mr. Sridhar Gadhi, Founder & Executive Chairman, Quantela Inc; Mr. Sandeep Saraf, Senior Director & Head – Markets, JLL India; Mr. Sreekanth Reddy, Head – Leasing (South India), Raheja Corp; Mr. Yousuf Ali, Director – Commercial Leasing & Advisory, ANAROCK; Ms. Samriddhi Singh, Associate Director, Cushman & Wakefield; and Ms. Vibhuti Jain, Director, PrimeDesk India. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Naidu.

Panelists observed that Hyderabad is fast emerging as a leading destination for Global Capability Centres (GCCs), supported by a skilled workforce, advanced infrastructure, and favourable government policies. While real estate prices have risen moderately, the city continues to offer strong value compared to other metros, making it an attractive hub for expansion and consolidation.

Pharma and defence were identified as key growth sectors driving office demand, while bundled, value-added services in managed workspaces were cited as major differentiators in a maturing market. The experts also forecast a phase of consolidation through mergers and acquisitions over the next three to five years.

With 356 GCCs—representing about 18 per cent of India’s total—Hyderabad is poised to become Asia’s next GCC hub. IKON 2025 concluded on an optimistic note, reaffirming the city’s position as an innovation-driven and investment-friendly destination for commercial real estate.