Central Gujarat: Driving The Next Chapter Of State's Growth Story

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

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

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

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

Inaugurating the conference, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that India is witnessing unprecedented growth across sectors under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose forward-looking governance has strengthened India’s global partnerships and accelerated economic progress. He noted that over the past 12 years, the Prime Minister’s emphasis on reforms, infrastructure development and investor-friendly governance has transformed India’s economic landscape. Replacing “red tape" with a “red carpet" approach, he said, has redefined the country’s Ease of Doing Business ecosystem. The three previous VGRC editions held in Mehsana, Rajkot and Surat had attracted investment commitments worth about Rs 13.30 lakh crore through 9,499 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).

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

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

Reaffirming Gujarat’s identity as a policy-driven State, Bhupendra Patel also highlighted the newly announced Industrial Policy 2026, which offers a wide range of incentives for MSMEs, women entrepreneurs, startups and emerging sectors. He said the policy introduces, for the first time, the innovative “Choose Your Incentives" framework, enabling industries to customise incentive packages based on their specific investment requirements. Expressing confidence in Gujarat’s future growth trajectory, he said that the combined strength of industry, innovation and investment would continue to propel the State towards the vision of Viksit Gujarat, contributing significantly to the national goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said that Vibrant Gujarat has evolved from an investment summit into a globally recognised platform for partnerships, innovation and sustainable economic growth. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, he said, Gujarat continues to script new milestones in industrial and economic development.

Highlighting the industrial prowess of Central Gujarat, Sanghavi said the region contributes nearly 28 per cent of Gujarat’s total manufacturing output and recorded exports worth more than USD 20.5 billion during 2025-26. Home to over 65 GIDC estates and more than 24,000 active industrial plots, Central Gujarat has emerged as one of the State’s strongest industrial engines.

He further pointed out that the region accounts for 92 per cent of Gujarat’s automobile and auto component manufacturing, 70 per cent of beverage processing, and 63 per cent of pharmaceutical and electrical equipment manufacturing, making it a critical contributor not only to Gujarat’s economy but also to global supply chains.

Looking ahead, Sanghavi 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 envisions Chhota Udepur as India’s next sports equipment manufacturing hub while positioning Vadodara as the country’s largest bioeconomy hub.

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

Highlighting India’s energy sector, Khattar said the country had successfully met a record peak power demand of 271 GW this year and was preparing to meet demand of up to 300 GW as consumption rises due to data centres, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. He added that Gujarat remained a power-surplus State with more than 50 GW of renewable energy capacity.

Echoing the state’s industrial aspirations, Deepak Mehta, CMD, Deepak Nitrite, expressed confidence in establishing a world-class Chemical Park in Central Gujarat. He highlighted that the initiative would significantly strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities, reduce dependence on imports of critical chemicals, and position the region as a key hub for the specialty chemicals sector.

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

With a vision to transform Chhota Udepur into a world-class sports goods manufacturing hub, Union Minister for Labour and Employment, and Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, addressed a special session at the conference. He reaffirmed that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is steadfastly working towards becoming a global powerhouse in sports goods manufacturing, with Gujarat poised to play a pivotal role in this journey.

Addressing the valedictory session of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Vadodara, Gujarat, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the Vibrant Gujarat platform has evolved into a nationwide movement contributing to the vision of a Viksit Bharat. He described the initiative as an effort to advance Gujarat through new ideas and opportunities.

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

Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conferences represents Gujarat’s next bold step towards inclusive growth, regional empowerment, and global partnerships. The conference was also attended by State Ministers, senior bureaucrats, ambassadors and representatives from industry.

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