The first three regional conferences attracted investment proposals worth approx $Rs 13.30 lakh crore has been allocated through 9,499 MoUs, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Monday said while inaugurating the fourth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC), which has positioned central Gujarat as the next manufacturing and innovation hub in the state.
Patel said the two-day conference will showcase the industrial strengths of 10 districts in central Gujarat to local and global investors while promoting new partnerships for industrial growth.
“I urge industry leaders, investors and entrepreneurs to work together to turn the discussions during the VGRC into decisions, ideas into projects, and projects into prosperity,” Patel said.
He said the previous editions of the regional conferences, held in Mehsana, Rajkot and Surat, together attracted investment proposals worth around $13.30 lakh crore through 9,499 MoUs, reflecting the growing confidence of investors in Gujarat’s regional development model.
Central Gujarat has emerged as one of the leading industrial regions in the state, with Vadodara developing into a hub for petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, electric vehicle equipment and aerospace manufacturing, including the Tata-Airbus C-295 aircraft project, Patel said. Anand has gained global recognition through the Amul co-operative movement, while Kheda has offered significant opportunities in food processing and SMEs. He added that Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Chota Udepur and Dahod are making significant contributions in manufacturing, engineering, pharmaceuticals, agri-food products and SMEs.
The Chief Minister said the Gujarat Industrial Policy 2026 is designed to strengthen the state’s position in global supply chains by providing incentives to SMEs, women entrepreneurs, start-ups and emerging sectors.
“The policy includes several industry-friendly incentives. For the first time, this policy introduces an innovative ‘Choose Your Incentives’ initiative, enabling industries to choose incentives as per their specific requirements,” Patel said.
He said Gujarat has emerged as a preferred investment destination due to stability of policies, modern infrastructure and speed of decision making.
Union Minister for Housing, Urban Affairs and Energy Manohar Lal Khattar said Gujarat’s stable politics, reliable power supply and world-class infrastructure have made it a preferred destination for investors.
“Every investor first evaluates whether the location is suitable for investment and whether it provides the necessary confidence for business growth. The Vibrant Global Gujarat Summit played an important role in building this confidence,” Khattar said.
He said India has succeeded in meeting the highest ever electricity demand of 271 GW this year, and preparations have been made to meet the demand of 284 GW, with further planning underway for up to 300 GW as electricity consumption rises due to data centres, electric vehicles and artificial intelligence. He said Gujarat continues to have an energy surplus with more than 50 GW of installed renewable energy capacity, and has struck a balance between industrial growth and environmental conservation.
Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said central Gujarat accounts for nearly 28% of the state’s industrial production and exports products worth over US$ 20.5 billion during 2025-26.
“The vibrant state of Gujarat is no longer just an investment summit but has become a symbol of global partnerships. It has evolved into a powerful platform that encourages innovation,” Sanghavi said.
He said the region has over 65 properties belonging to the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation with over 24,000 active industrial plots and accounts for 92% of Gujarat’s automobile and auto component manufacturing, 70% of beverage processing and 63% of pharmaceutical and electrical equipment manufacturing.
Sanghavi said the state has set a target to attract them $Rs 10 lakh crore of new investments over the next five years under the Industrial Policy 2026, which also provides additional support to women entrepreneurs, mega projects and employment generation.
