Did Gujarat Approve Rs 1,478 Crore Industrial Projects Creating Over 4,100 Jobs?

Gandhinagar, Aug 13 (NationPress) The government of Gujarat has greenlit proposals from 22 significant companies totaling investments of Rs 1,478.71 crore, which are projected to create over 4,136 new jobs.

This decision was reached during a meeting led by Industries Minister Balvantsinh Rajput, aimed at issuing final eligibility certificates under the 'Incentive to Industries' program.

Minister Rajput emphasized that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has built a strong, industry-friendly environment, with Gujarat, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, leading the charge.

He stated, "Since the inception of the 'Incentive to Industries' scheme, the state has attracted investments totaling approximately Rs 1,48,336.35 crore, resulting in over 1.65 lakh direct jobs. This has significantly boosted ancillary units in the MSME sector."

The newly sanctioned projects cover a variety of industries across different districts: Ahmedabad (metal, paper, food-agro, cement-concrete) with Rs 383.91 crore, Kutch (metal) with Rs 227.77 crore, Bharuch (chemical, ceramic) with Rs 218.88 crore, Mehsana (paper) with Rs 55.23 crore, Morbi (ceramic, metal, paper, textile) with Rs 167.70 crore, Rajkot (metal) with Rs 36.22 crore, Valsad (chemical, plastic, paper) with Rs 359.47 crore, and Surendranagar (paper) with Rs 29.53 crore.

The state's 'Incentive to Industries' scheme, launched under the Industrial Policy 2015, aims to establish Gujarat as a global manufacturing center by promoting advanced technology, attracting substantial investments, and supporting innovative initiatives.

By providing net SGST reimbursement, this scheme has positioned Gujarat as one of the most appealing investment destinations not just in India but globally, garnering substantial interest from major industries.

Present at the meeting were senior officials, including Mamta Verma, Additional Chief Secretary (Industries & Mines), Sanjiv Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest & Environment), Dr. Vinod Rao, Secretary (Labour & Employment), and P. Swaroop, Industries Commissioner.

Gujarat has emerged as one of India's top employment performers, with the labor force participation rate climbing to 48.1 percent in 2022–23 from 39.6 percent five years earlier, an increase of 8.5 percentage points, nearly double the national average.

The state's overall unemployment rate is among the lowest in the country at 1.7–1.8 percent, compared to the national average of 6.6 percent, while youth unemployment (ages 15–29) is just 5.1 percent, also among the lowest nationally.