Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat,launched fourth Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) Monday in Vadodara,urging industry to move from talk to action. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar,Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi,state ministers,senior bureaucrats,and industry reps packed event.
Patel said VGRC showcases district-level industrial strength,echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for balanced regional growth. Not just an investment summit. It's a gateway to global opportunities.
“Turn discussions into decisions,” Patel told crowd . Conference spans ten districts in Central Gujarat,seeking new partnerships and more industrial growth.
Patel highlighted past VGRC wins in Mehsana,Rajkot,and Surat,where they secured ₹13.30 lakh crore in investments. Central Gujarat is state's industrial core,with places like Vadodara, Anand,and Kheda leading in manufacturing,engineering,and pharmaceuticals.
Vadodara emerges as hub for sectors like petrochemicals and aerospace. Anand boosts global profile through dairy cooperatives. Patel also unveiled new Industrial Policy 2026,offering tailored incentives for MSMEs,startups,and women entrepreneurs,plus a “Choose Your Incentives” option for investors.
Khattar praised Gujarat as a top investment destination,citing stable policies and world-class infrastructure. Vibrant Gujarat initiative has lifted investor confidence,setting stage for industrial growth under Modi’s leadership.
Khattar discussed India’s energy scene,noting record 271 GW peak power demand this year,with expectations to hit 300 GW as data centers and EVs consume more. Gujarat stays power-surplus,boasting over 50 GW renewable capacity.
Deputy Chief Minister Sanghavi noted VGRC’s evolution from just an investment summit to global innovation and partnership platform. Central Gujarat accounts for nearly 28% of state’s manufacturing output,exporting goods valued at $20.5 billion in 2025-26 .
Region hosts 65+ GIDC estates with 24,000+ active industrial plots,driving sectors like auto manufacturing and pharma. Sanghavi announced plans for Chhota Udepur as sports equipment hub and Vadodara as India’s largest bioeconomy hub.
He unveiled Viksit Gujarat Industrial Policy 2026,aiming for ₹10 lakh crore in new investments over five years . Enhanced incentives for women entrepreneurs were introduced,including extra 1% interest subsidy and skill refreshers for women rejoining workforce.
The policy targets mega projects worth ₹10,000 crore,creating ~3,000 jobs . Sanghavi said state upped industrial incentive payouts by 55% in two years to ₹7,888 crore,while cutting paperwork and speeding up applications…but challenges remain.
