Vibrant Gujarat Conference: 2,792 MoUs worth Rs 3.53 lakh crore signed

The Gujarat Government has signed 2,792 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) of Rs 3,53,306 crore during the two-day Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference for South Gujarat, and the projects are expected to generate 2.82 lakh direct job opportunities in the coming years.

State Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi provided this information during the conference’s valedictory function in Surat.

“In these two days at the South Gujarat conference, we have achieved massive milestones: 2,792 MoUs were signed, and investments worth Rs 3,53,306 crore were pledged on the soil of South Gujarat,” he said.

Once these projects are implemented over the next three years, they will create large-scale job opportunities, he said.

“These projects will provide direct employment to 2.82 lakh youths in the region,” Sanghavi said.

Before this regional conference in Surat, two similar events were held in the recent past: first in Mehsana for the North Gujarat region and second at Rajkot for the Saurashtra and Kutch region.

According to Sanghavi, the State Government has taken the Vibrant Gujarat initiative beyond the State Capital, Gandhinagar, to different regions so that more people can benefit from it.

“To accelerate this journey further, under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Team Gujarat has taken the Vibrant Gujarat Summit beyond Gandhinagar to every region of the state to fulfil your dreams,” he said.

The focus of these regional conferences is to ensure that small business owners have direct access to global opportunities, he said.

“We are focusing on how small businessmen can directly benefit,” Sanghavi said, adding that participants from across regions got a chance to interact with international companies.

“For the past two days, businessmen from South Gujarat have had a direct opportunity to meet representatives from 20 countries, including Rwanda, the US, Canada, Singapore, and Japan,” he said.

Businesses were conducted, MoUs were signed, and many discussions will progress in the coming days, he said.

Highlighting the broader vision, the deputy CM said the initiative is aimed at reaching those who usually do not get such opportunities.

“The direct benefit goes to those sitting right here in the last row,” Sanghavi, a BJP MLA from Surat, said.

“Those sitting in the first row already have access to global businesses and resources. However, our primary responsibility is not just to the first row, but to ensure we fulfil the dreams of every businessman sitting up to the very last row,” he added. Calling himself a representative of the region, Sanghavi said the Government wants to work closely with industry.

He also spoke about steps being taken to make Government processes faster and more responsive.

“In the coming days, these regional conferences will not just be about bringing in investors. If our existing businessmen and investors face any issues, responsible Government officers will hold open-door meetings to listen to your problems and resolve them,” he said.

Talking about sectoral focus, Sanghavi said the Government is promoting industries that can generate jobs, especially for women, in tribal areas.

“We are actively working to take non-polluting industries to tribal districts like Dang and Tapi, as well as parts of Navsari, Valsad, Bharuch, and Surat,” he said.

He said special attention is being given to the garment sector. “Our major, aggressive focus here is the garment sector, and we have achieved massive success,” he said.

“Over the next two years, we are working with major garmenting industry leaders to provide direct employment to more than 25,000 women in tribal districts,” he added.

Sanghavi said the Government is also making arrangements to ensure safe and easy travel for women workers. “The State Government is making arrangements so that women from small villages can easily take a bus in the morning for work and return home safely by evening,” he said.

He said the Government remains committed to supporting businesses and ensuring that investments translate into real growth on the ground.