Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi has stated that non-polluting industries and the garment sector are being promoted in tribal areas such as Dang, Tapi, Valsad, and Navsari and as a result, over 25,000 women in tribal regions will gain employment opportunities from home within the next two years.
Speaking about policies to encourage the industrial sector, the Deputy Chief Minister said the state government is continuously accelerating the process of incentive clearances.
“Earlier, 199 applications were cleared daily, which has now doubled, and in the future, this number will exceed 500,” Sanghavi said on the concluding day of Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) – South Gujarat held recently in Surat.
Sanghavi mentioned that 2,792 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 3,53,306 crore were signed during the two-day VGRC – South Gujarat in Surat, with projects expected to generate direct employment for over 2.82 lakh youths over the next three years.
The Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister stated that the VGRC has emerged as an important platform to showcase the potential of South Gujarat to the nation and the world.
“This two-day conference has proven to be historic in ensuring holistic industrial development and employment generation in South Gujarat. With the implementation of projects under the MoUs in the next three years, more than 2.82 lakh youths in South Gujarat will gain direct employment,” he said.
The Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister stated that the idea of ‘Vibrant Gujarat’, initiated in 2003 by the then Chief Minister and present Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to present Gujarat’s industrial strength to the world, has resulted in the state’s GDP increasing from Rs 1.29 lakh crore to Rs 27.09 lakh crore today.
“Over the past 24 years of this steady development journey, ‘Team Gujarat’ and the state’s business community have never stepped back despite numerous challenges,” he said.
Sanghavi added that the state government’s priority is not limited to leading industrialists but extends to fulfilling the aspirations of small traders at the grassroots level.
The state government is working to ensure that the benefits of the VGRC directly reach small entrepreneurs, he stated.
Announcing an innovative initiative, Sanghavi stated that henceforth, regional conferences will include not only new investors but also ‘Open Door Meetings’ for on-the-spot resolution of issues faced by existing industrialists, where responsible government officials will engage directly.
The Deputy Chief Minister asked industrialists and investors to “move ahead with a progressive mindset, and the government will fully support you in reaching global buyers and providing all necessary arrangements.”
The two-day ‘Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference – South Gujarat’ held on May 1 and 2 in Surat included six districts of South Gujarat, including Surat, with active participation from representatives associated with industry, agriculture, MSMEs, and the service sector. The main objective of the conference was to accelerate regional industrial growth, attract investors, and create new employment opportunities.