While the high-level Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for the Saurashtra-Kutch region concluded on January 12, the expansive public exhibition associated with the event will continue to welcome visitors until January 15. The Gujarat government announced the extension, offering citizens and business enthusiasts an extended opportunity to witness the region's industrial prowess.
A Grand Showcase of Saurashtra-Kutch's Potential
Hosted at Marwadi University on the Morbi highway north of Rajkot city, the massive exhibition spans an impressive 26,000 square meters. It serves as a convergence point for a diverse array of participants, including leading industrialists, entrepreneurs, academicians, artisans, women entrepreneurs, and innovators from the Kutch and Saurashtra regions.
The exhibition boasts participation from 450 exhibitors, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the local economy. This includes over 160 MSMEs, 60 startups and innovators, 62 artisans, and 70 stalls manned by central and state government departments. Sectors on display range from agriculture and food processing to fisheries, defence, energy, petrochemicals, engineering, and ports and logistics.
Thematic Domes and Major Participants
The exhibition is ingeniously organized into six distinct thematic domes, each focusing on a specific growth area:
- Gateway to Global Growth
- Green Energy Ecosystem and Petrochemicals
- Crafts Village and MSME Pavilion
- Ocean of Opportunities
- Enterprise Excellence Pavilion
- Public Sector Powerhouse
Each dome features pop-up stages for live product launches, technology demonstrations, and direct interactions with visitors. Major corporate names gracing the event include Torrent Power, Kosol, Adani Green, Essar Group, Nayara Energy, and Jyoti CNC.
Highlights and Visitor Engagement
To encourage public participation, the government has organized a daily lucky draw at 5:30 PM from January 12 to 15. Attendees stand a chance to win attractive prizes like electric scooters, 42-inch LED TVs, refrigerators, smartphones, and various gift vouchers and hampers.
A cornerstone of the event was the Reverse Buyers-Sellers Meet (RBSM), which provided a unique platform for regional MSMEs. It facilitated direct connections with more than 110 international buyers. Notably, cottage industries participated in exclusive interactions with over 20 international buyers for the first time, creating new global pathways.
The initiative received an overwhelming response, with over 2,200 B2B meetings held in the first two days alone. This resulted in the signing of more than 1,000 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), which are expected to generate export business worth over Rs 500 crore.
Legacy of the Saurashtra-Kutch VGRC
The two-day VGRC conference, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 11, featured 50 seminars. It marked the first of four planned regional Vibrant Gujarat conferences, with others to follow in the central, north, and south regions of the state.
The conference had four partner countries—Japan, Rwanda, South Korea, and Ukraine—along with 12 partner organizations. Significant announcements during the VGRC included plans for 13 new Smart GIDC estates covering 3,543 acres across seven districts and the inauguration of the Medical Devices Park at Nagalpar in Rajkot, further solidifying the region's industrial infrastructure.
