Surat, April 29
Gujarat is set to place South Gujarat at the centre of its next phase of economic expansion as it hosts the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference on May 1 and 2 at AURO University in Surat, alongside a parallel focus on global finance through GIFT City and emerging investment opportunities in Global Capability Centres.
The conference is expected to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, startups and international stakeholders to examine the role of innovation, industrial collaboration and financial services in shaping long-term growth.
The programme includes sessions on startup scaling, industrial transformation, sustainability, and regional development, with South Gujarat positioned as a key growth engine within the state's wider development strategy.
A key focus of the conference will be Gujarat's startup ecosystem, which the government says includes more than 18,880 DPIIT-recognised startups, placing the state fifth nationally.
More than 32 per cent of these startups are based in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, reflecting a decentralised pattern of entrepreneurship.
The ecosystem is supported by over 210 government-funded incubators and more than 318 registered mentors.
The state has consistently been ranked as a "Best Performer" in the Startup India rankings since 2018.
In 2024-25, the government allocated around Rs 18.33 crore in seed funding and Rs 137 crore in venture funding to support innovation-led enterprises.
Discussions under the startup track will include the application of startups in high-impact sectors, the role of established industries in enabling scale-up, and the transition towards sustainable industrial models.
A moderated panel discussion will examine South Gujarat's role in India's long-term economic roadmap towards 2047, with participation from regional entrepreneurs across energy, food processing, digital services and technology sectors.
In parallel, the conference will also highlight Gujarat's financial services ambitions through Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), which is being positioned as India's international financial gateway.
A seminar titled "GIFT City: International Financial Gateway of India" will be held on May 1, led by senior officials including Managing Director and Group CEO Sanjay Kaul.
The discussions are expected to focus on cross-border finance, capital markets, wealth management and investment flows.
The Department of Science and Technology, along with GIFT City, will also host a Gujarat GCC Conclave, focusing on the state's Global Capability Centres policy for 2025-30.
The conclave will examine policy frameworks, infrastructure readiness, skilled workforce availability and regulatory reforms aimed at attracting global enterprises to establish and expand operations in the state.
It will also include roundtable discussions with senior executives and industry leaders.
GIFT City, located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, is India's first operational International Financial Services Centre and spans 886 acres.
Operating under the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSC) framework, it provides a regulatory and financial ecosystem designed to align with global markets.
The hub integrates banking, capital markets, insurance, fund management, leasing services and global capability centres.
As of the third quarter of 2025-26, GIFT City's IFSC ecosystem comprises 37 operational banking units with total assets of USD 106.7 billion, compared with USD 14 billion in 2020, according to official figures.
The conference is expected to conclude with discussions on strengthening linkages between startups, industry and global financial institutions, with a focus on positioning South Gujarat as an integrated hub within India's broader economic and innovation ecosystem.
- IANS
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