Regional Vibrant Conferences secured investment worth Rs 13.30 lakh crore: Gujarat CM
Vadodara, June 29
Gujarat's three Regional Vibrant Conferences have attracted investment commitments worth Rs 13.30 lakh crore through 9,499 memoranda of understanding, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Monday, describing the regional conference model as a "key driver" of balanced industrial development across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration of the fourth Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for Central Gujarat in Vadodara, Patel said the initiative had built on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ensuring that economic growth reached every region of Gujarat.
"PM Modi introduced the new concept of balanced growth, which we have taken forward through the Regional Conferences," Patel said.
He noted that after the successful regional conferences in Mehsana, Rajkot and Surat, the fourth edition was being organised for the 10 districts of Central Gujarat.
"So far, through the three Regional Conferences, 9,499 MoUs have brought investments worth Rs 13.30 lakh crore into various industries across the state," Patel said.
The Chief Minister said the success of the regional conferences reflected the evolution of Gujarat's investment strategy, which began with the launch of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2003 under PM Modi's leadership.
"With the determination to transform Gujarat's image from merely being a trading state to becoming an investment destination, PM Modi launched the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2003," he said.
Patel said the summit was conceived at a time when international investment summits were uncommon and was based on PM Modi's vision of bringing global investors to Gujarat.
"At that time, he had said that his dream was to bring investors from across the world to Gujarat. Owing to the remarkable success of two decades of the Vibrant Summit, his dream has been realised, and Gujarat has today become the Global Gateway to the Future," he said.
According to Patel, the sustained success of the Vibrant Gujarat initiative has helped establish Gujarat as the country's growth engine.
Turning to Central Gujarat, Patel described the region as the development heart of the state, with districts such as Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur and Dahod making significant contributions to manufacturing, engineering, pharmaceuticals, agri-food processing and MSME development.
"Vadodara is emerging as a major centre for petrochemicals, speciality chemicals, electric vehicle equipment and aerospace manufacturing through the Tata-Airbus C-295 aircraft project," he emphasised.
Patel also recalled Prime Minister Modi's observation that Central Gujarat had undergone a remarkable industrial transformation.
"Anand had earned global recognition through the Amul brand, while Kheda had developed strengths in food processing and small-scale industries," he added.
He also referred to the industrial network extending from Vadodara, Halol, Kalol, Godhra and Dahod towards Madhya Pradesh as evidence of the region's expanding manufacturing ecosystem.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone from Vadodara, I'm particularly excited about the Tata-Airbus C-295 project putting us on the aerospace map! But these regional conferences should also focus on MSMEs and local entrepreneurs, not just big corporations. Balanced growth means opportunities for small businesses too. 🙏
This is a smart approach. Regional conferences ensure that investment doesn't just cluster around Ahmedabad or Surat. The industrial corridor from Vadodara to Madhya Pradesh could really transform backward districts like Dahod and Chhota Udepur. Hope infrastructure keeps pace with these promises.
No doubt Gujarat has become a model for investment attraction. But I wish more emphasis was given to clean energy, sustainability, and water conservation in these conferences. Our region faces severe water stress - industries must adopt zero-liquid discharge norms. Batlao na, kya fayda investment ka agar environment kharab ho jayega? 🌍
Brilliant to see that PM Modi's 2003 vision of Vibrant Gujarat has evolved into this regional model. The fact that 9,499 MoUs have been signed shows investor confidence. However, I hope the state government ensures timely land acquisition and clearances so projects don't get stuck like some previous ones. 🚀
Central Gujarat has always been the heartland - from Amul's dairy revolution to now aerospace manufacturing. It's heartening to see Kheda and Anand getting attention for food processing. But we also need skill development centres, because what's the point of investments if local youth aren't trained for these jobs? 😊
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.