Vadodara to host Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in June

The next edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC), focusing on Central Gujarat, will be held in Vadodara in the last week of June 2026 and will bring together stakeholders from industry, government and academia to highlight the region’s industrial strength, investment opportunities and tourism potential.

Central Gujarat, comprising 10 districts namely Ahmedabad, Anand, Chhotaudepur, Dahod, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Mahisagar, Narmada, Panchmahal and Vadodara, accounts for 28% of the state’s total manufacturing output, according to official data.

District-level data from the Annual Industrial Survey 2022-23 shows that the district contributes 93% of Gujarat’s total output in manufacturing of railway locomotives, rolling stock, aircraft, spacecraft and other transport equipment, including two- and three-wheelers. It also supplies 92 percent of the state’s automobile and auto parts production, 70 percent of its beverage production, and 63 percent each of pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.

About 62% of Gujarat’s total area falls under the purview of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC); In Central Gujarat, two major projects, the 5,560-acre Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) and the 2,849-acre Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (MBSIR), are playing an important role in the development of the corridor.

Each region in the region has developed special industrial strengths, officials said. While Vadodara is dominated by chemicals and petrochemicals, accounting for 61 per cent of manufacturing output, Ahmedabad has a strong presence in automobiles and auto components, textiles, base metals and pharmaceutical products. While Gandhinagar’s manufacturing is driven by food processing, basic metals and chemicals, it is also emerging as an electronics and financial technology hub with the presence of GIFT City.

While Anand’s industrial base focuses on agricultural and dairy processing, Panchmahal has a strong footprint in automobile components, rubber and plastic and pharmaceutical products. Kheda’s production comes from rubber and plastic products and food processing, while Narmada, Chhotaudepur and Dahod are largely supported by agriculture and food processing industries.

In the financial year 2024-25, Central Gujarat recorded exports worth $20.54 billion, reaching over 219 countries. The pharmaceutical industry was at the top of the export basket with 3.67 billion dollars, followed by nuclear reactors, boilers and machinery with 2.79 billion dollars, electrical machinery and equipment with 1.79 billion dollars, road vehicles and parts with 1.47 billion dollars and organic chemicals with 1.45 billion dollars. The USA was the largest export destination, accounting for 23.8 percent of total exports, followed by the UAE, Thailand, the UK and Saudi Arabia.

The upcoming conference will cover sectors such as semiconductors and electronics, IT and ITeS, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, aerospace and defence, fintech, automobile and auto components, dairy and food processing, education, chemicals and petrochemicals, textiles and apparel, green energy, skill development, start-ups, MSMEs and tourism and culture.

Tourism and culture will be the main theme of the conference, with emphasis on supporting heritage and eco-tourism destinations in the region. Major attractions include Sabarmati Ashram, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Swaminarayan Akshardham, Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park and Statue of Unity. Other tourism areas such as Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary and Pavagadh Hill corridor are also expected to come forward.

The conference builds on the results of the three previous VGRC editions. At the inaugural North Gujarat edition held in Mehsana in October 2025, 1,264 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) worth ₹3.25 lakh crore were signed and attracted over 29,000 registrations and over 440 international delegates from 80 countries.

In the Kutch and Saurashtra edition held in Rajkot in January 2026, 5,492 MoUs were registered with proposed investments worth Rs 5.78 lakh crore and participation of around 400 international delegates representing 57 countries.

The latest South Gujarat edition, held in Surat in May 2026, resulted in 2,792 MoUs worth ₹3.53 lakh crore and received over 20,000 registrations along with over 150 international delegates from 27 countries.

It was published – 23 May 2026 05:33 IST