Earlier this week, Toyo Engineering Japan and MODEC Inc. inaugurated TOYO MODEC OFS India Pvt. Ltd., their Global Capability Center (GCC) in Bengaluru. Located within 100,000 sq ft of workspace, the inauguration was attended by senior executives and Japan’s Consul General Nakane Tsutomu.
Initially staffed with around 200 professionals, the centre is targeting rapid growth to 750 employees over the next three years, delivering high-value engineering, FEED, procurement, and FPSO project support.
To explore the vision behind this expansion and its broader impact on global offshore energy engineering, GCC Pulse invited Takashi Kawahara, Managing Director of Toyo Engineering India and Chairman of OFS India, for an exclusive Q&A on strategy, scale-up plans, and the role of innovation in shaping engineering GCCs.
Q. What are the key strategic imperatives behind setting up a Global Capability Center (GCC) in Bengaluru, and how does this move align with your broader global delivery model, particularly in support of FPSO projects?
Takashi: The establishment of the GCC – TOYO MODEC OFS India reflects the strong shared vision of Offshore Frontier Solutions Singapore, a MODEC Group company, and Toyo India, a subsidiary of Toyo Engineering, Japan. It is aimed to deliver world-class solutions in the offshore energy sector. This GCC will serve as a strategic hub to support global projects, enhance engineering capabilities, and drive digital transformation.
The joint venture company, TOYO MODEC OFS, will operate as an independent entity supporting global projects and enhancing service delivery by executing front end engineering & design, detailed engineering, and provide procurement support for the topsides of floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO, in industry parlance) projects, among its primary business activities.
Q. Your GCC is expected to scale from 200 to 750 professionals over the next three years. What kind of engineering and technical skillsets are you prioritizing, and how do you plan to build capabilities at scale in a specialized domain like offshore energy production?
Takashi: At this stage, TOYO MODEC OFS is prioritizing the hiring of highly skilled professionals across key technical and support functions that are critical to the successful execution of our global projects—especially those related to FPSO systems. We are primarily looking to onboard talent in engineering, and procurement support. Priority roles include process, piping, mechanical, structural, and electrical engineers, as well as instrumentation and naval architecture specialists. These positions form the engineering core that will contribute to project planning and delivery for FPSO topsides and related infrastructure.
In parallel, we are also strengthening our teams in project management, planning, procurement, and digital design—including CAD designers and professionals skilled in tools such as SmartPlant, E3D, and AutoCAD. On the corporate side, we are building support teams in HR, finance, administration, and IT infrastructure, which are essential for sustaining the operations of our GCC.
Q. How would you describe the work culture at OFS India? What unique cultural elements—possibly influenced by both Japanese values and Indian work environments—do you believe will help attract and retain top talent in this competitive ecosystem?
Takashi: At our GCC, we integrate Japanese and Indian values, emphasizing our core values of OCEAN—One team, Care, Empowered, Agility, and Integrity, which drive our commitment to diversity and inclusion. We focus on people leadership by growing diverse talent, providing regular feedback, and fostering humility. Ownership is encouraged at OFS India through accountability, timely decisions, and clear communication. We thrive by embracing challenges, learning from failures, and expanding our intellect. This dynamic culture attracts and retains top talent, ensuring success in the competitive offshore energy production ecosystem.
Q. With a growing number of Japanese multinationals setting up or expanding their GCCs in India, what distinguishes Toyo MODEC OFS India’s approach in the energy and engineering sector, and how do you see this trend evolving over the next five years?
Takashi: Toyo MODEC OFS India’s approach in the energy and engineering sector is distinguished by its focus on front-end engineering & design, detailed engineering, and procurement support for FPSO projects. This joint venture leverages the strengths of both Toyo Engineering and MODEC, combining Japanese precision with Indian innovation. Over the next five years, this trend of Japanese multinationals expanding their GCCs in India is expected to grow, driven by India’s skilled workforce, cost advantages, and strategic location. This will likely lead to increased collaboration, technological advancements, and enhanced capabilities in the offshore energy sector.
Q. Bengaluru, Karnataka, is a global hub for innovation and engineering excellence. How do you plan to leverage local partnerships, academia, or ecosystem collaborations to continuously evolve the capabilities of your India GCC?
Takashi: At our Bengaluru GCC, we are committed to nurturing local talent by building strong partnerships with academic institutions and engaging with the broader innovation community. We plan to offer internships and recruit graduate engineers from local universities. To continuously evolve the capabilities of our India GCC, we plan to mobilize local talent from Bangalore and the southern regions and engage with local HR consultants for recruitment support. This approach will help us tap into the rich pool of regional talent, foster strong industry-academia connections, and streamline our hiring processes to build a robust and innovative workforce.
