Central Gujarat: The next chapter in the state’s development story. india news

Last updated:July 04, 2026, 03:31 IST

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel calls upon industrialists, investors and entrepreneurs to turn discussions into decisions and ideas into impactful projects

Gujarat continues to strengthen its position as one of India’s most preferred investment destinations through the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conclave (VGRC) – a strategic initiative designed to unlock the economic potential of every region of the state. After the stupendous success of the first three editions in Mehsana, Rajkot and Surat, the fourth conference for Central Gujarat region was organized at GSFC University, Vadodara.

Over the past few months, Vibrant Gujarat regional conferences have evolved from investment outreach programs to powerful platforms for regional transformation. They have emerged as catalysts for inclusive economic growth by showcasing regional strengths, promoting innovation, encouraging industry-government collaboration and attracting strategic investments that contribute to Gujarat’s long-term growth vision.

Inaugurating the conference, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said India is witnessing unprecedented development in various sectors under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose visionary governance has strengthened India’s global partnerships and accelerated economic progress. He said that over the last 12 years, the Prime Minister’s emphasis on reforms, infrastructure development and investor-friendly governance has transformed India’s economic landscape. By replacing “red tape” with a “red carpet” approach, the country’s ease of doing business ecosystem has been redefined, he said. The last three VGRC editions held in Mehsana, Rajkot and Surat had attracted investment commitments of about Rs 13.30 lakh crore through 9,499 memoranda of understanding (MoUs).

Calling upon industrialists, investors and entrepreneurs to transform the discussions into decisions and ideas into impactful projects, the Chief Minister described VGRC as much more than an investment platform. “It is a bridge that connects local enterprise to global opportunities,” he said, adding that the regional conference model reflects the state government’s commitment to balanced and inclusive growth envisioned by the Prime Minister.

Describing Central Gujarat as the heartbeat of Gujarat’s industrial development, the Chief Minister highlighted the significant contribution of the districts including Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur and Dahod in sectors like manufacturing, engineering, pharmaceuticals, agri-food processing and MSME.

Reaffirming Gujarat’s identity as a policy-driven state, Bhupendra Patel also highlighted the newly announced Industrial Policy 2026, which provides comprehensive incentives for MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, startups and emerging sectors. He said that the innovative “Choose Your Incentive” framework has been introduced for the first time in the policy, which enables industries to customize the incentive package based on their specific investment needs. Expressing confidence in Gujarat’s future growth path, he said the combined strength of industry, innovation and investment will continue to propel the state towards the vision of a Developed Gujarat, which will significantly contribute to the national goal of Developed India @2047.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi said that Vibrant Gujarat has evolved from an investment summit to a globally recognized platform for partnerships, innovation and sustainable economic growth. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat is setting new milestones in industrial and economic development.

Highlighting the industrial progress of Central Gujarat, Sanghvi said that the region contributes about 28 per cent to the total manufacturing output of Gujarat and has recorded exports of more than US$ 20.5 billion during 2025-26. Home to over 65 GIDC estates and over 24,000 active industrial plots, Central Gujarat has emerged as one of the strongest industrial engines of the state.

He further informed that the sector contributes 92 per cent to Gujarat’s automobile and auto component manufacturing, 70 per cent to beverage processing and 63 per cent to pharmaceutical and electrical equipment manufacturing, making it a significant contributor not only to Gujarat’s economy but also to global supply chains.

Looking ahead, Sanghvi unveiled an ambitious roadmap under the Central Gujarat Economic Master Plan, which outlines the region’s development strategy for the next two decades. The plan sees Chhota Udepur as India’s next sports equipment manufacturing hub, while positioning Vadodara as the country’s largest bio-economy hub.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power, Manohar Lal Khattar said that Gujarat has become one of India’s most promising investment destinations due to stable policies, reliable power supply, world-class infrastructure and industry-friendly governance. He credited the Vibrant Gujarat initiative for building confidence among global investors and said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister, the state had laid the foundation for policy stability and industrial growth.

Highlighting India’s energy sector, Khattar said the country has successfully met a record peak power demand of 271 GW this year and is preparing to meet demand of up to 300 GW as consumption increases due to data centres, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. He said Gujarat remains a power-surplus state with over 50 GW of renewable energy potential.

Reiterating the industrial aspirations of the state, Deepak Mehta, CMD, Deepak Nitrite expressed confidence of setting up a world class chemical park in Central Gujarat. He highlighted that this initiative will significantly strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, reduce dependence on imports of critical chemicals and establish the region as a major hub for the specialty chemicals sector.

The two-day summit featured over 30 seminars with 151 experts and representatives from partner countries including Japan, Singapore, UAE, Ukraine and Rwanda. A grand exhibition with over 150 stalls showcasing regional MSMEs, advanced tech startups and leading enterprises like Amul and GSFC was the highlight of the event.

With a vision to transform Chhota Udepur into a world-class sporting goods manufacturing hub, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labor and Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports, addressed a special session at the conference. He reiterated that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is continuously working towards becoming a global power in sporting goods manufacturing, Gujarat is set to play an important role in this journey.

Addressing the concluding session of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Vadodara, Gujarat, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that the Vibrant Gujarat platform has evolved into a nationwide movement contributing to the vision of a developed India. He described this initiative as an effort to take Gujarat forward through new ideas and opportunities.

Emphasizing on the pillars of nation-building, Singh said, “Great nations stand on three strong foundations – economic strength, technological strength and national security. All three are deeply interconnected. Where there is economic prosperity and technological advancement, security becomes stronger. And where national security is strong, industry and innovation flourish.” He emphasized that India’s growth path is being driven by this integrated approach, creating an enabling ecosystem for industry and innovation.

The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit represents Gujarat’s next bold step towards inclusive growth, regional empowerment and global engagement. State ministers, senior bureaucrats, ambassadors and industry representatives also participated in the conference.

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