Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the two-day Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for the Saurashtra-Kutch region in Rajkot on Saturday, 11 January. The event is designed to create a powerful platform for innovators, entrepreneurs, global investors, and government bodies to collaborate and accelerate industrial growth in western Gujarat.
Major Announcements and High-Profile Inauguration
The inauguration ceremony at Marwadi University was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi. Prime Minister Modi's agenda included inaugurating a trade show at 1:30 PM, followed by the formal inauguration of the conference at 2 PM, where he addressed the gathering.
In a significant move, the Prime Minister announced the development of 14 greenfield smart Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation Limited (GIDC) estates. He also inaugurated the GIDC medical device park in Rajkot, marking a substantial push for advanced manufacturing infrastructure in the region.
Scale and Scope of the Rajkot Summit
The conference is set to be a massive networking and deal-making event. Officials stated that over 1,800 B2B meetings are scheduled, with an expectation to sign around 1,500 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). International participation is robust, with buyers from more than 16 countries, including the USA, European nations, and Australia, alongside 20 national buyers.
Partner countries for the event include Japan, South Korea, Rwanda, and Ukraine. The exhibition, spread across the 55-acre Marwadi University campus, features more than 400 exhibitors from diverse sectors such as ceramics, engineering, green energy, ports & logistics, fisheries, and startups.
Driving Gujarat's Ambitious Economic Vision
This regional conference is part of a series of four, building on the legacy of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. The first was held in North Gujarat in October 2025, with the Rajkot event focusing on the 12 districts of Kutch and Saurashtra. The state government's broader vision, as stated by CM Bhupendra Patel in Delhi last September, is to transform Gujarat into a $3.5 trillion economy by 2047.
The conference agenda is tightly focused on future-oriented sectors. Day one featured discussions on 'Blue Energy, Green Future', green startups, and sustainable agriculture under the theme 'Carbon to Crops'. It also highlighted Gujarat's role as India's energy gateway.
The second day, 12 January, will commence with a flagship program on solar empowerment through central government schemes like PM-KUSUM and PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. The day will also see the release of a compendium on best practices by GUVNL, MoU signings, and felicitation ceremonies.
By facilitating structured B2B, B2G, and G2G meetings, the VGRC aims to solidify Gujarat's integrated approach to energy security, sustainability, and industrial competitiveness. The event is a critical step in reinforcing the state's leadership in India's journey towards an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and the goal of 'Viksit Bharat@2047'.
