Traditional handicrafts and GI-tagged products from Central Gujarat — including Ahmedabad's Sodagari Block Print, Mata ni Pachedi, and Agates of Cambay — are set to be showcased alongside industrial investment opportunities at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) in Vadodara in the last week of June 2025. The event is being positioned as both an industrial platform and a cultural showcase for the region.

Crafts and Cultural Heritage on Display

Ahmedabad Sodagari Block Print, a centuries-old hand-block textile printing tradition practised by the Chhipa community in the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad, will be among the highlights. The craft received its GI tag in 2024. Mata ni Pachedi, a sacred textile art created by the Devipujak community involving painted deity imagery on cloth — practised across Ahmedabad and Kheda districts — received GI recognition in 2023.

Pithora Painting, a ritual mural art of the Rathwa, Bhil, and Bhilala tribal communities of Chhota Udepur and Panchmahal districts, will also feature. It was awarded a GI tag in 2021. Pethapur Printing Blocks from Gandhinagar district, a wood-carving tradition spanning more than 300 years, hold a GI tag from 2018.

Agates of Cambay, the semi-precious stone craft from Khambhat in Anand district with historical links to the Harappan civilisation, and Sankheda Furniture from Vadodara district — known for its lacquered maroon-and-gold teak craftsmanship by the Kharadi-Suthar community — both carry GI tags from 2008. Bead work from Dahod and Khambhat kites, currently undergoing GI registration, may also be exhibited.

Alignment with Vocal for Local and Viksit Bharat Vision

Officials said the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Vocal for Local' campaign and the broader 'Viksit Bharat@2047' vision, aimed at strengthening traditional industries and connecting local artisans with global markets. The VGRC is designed to bridge the gap between heritage craft clusters and mainstream investment ecosystems.

Industrial and Business Agenda

Beyond cultural exhibitions, the conference will host vendor development programmes, reverse buyer-seller meets, trade exhibitions, and sector-specific pavilions. The event will also include the inauguration of industrial projects, awards for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and dedicated B2B and B2G networking sessions.

Entrepreneurship fairs, industrial and tourism site visits, and international partnership agreements involving the global diaspora are also on the agenda. According to officials, earlier editions of the VGRC contributed to promoting regional economies while raising international visibility for local traditions and industries.

What to Watch

The conference is expected to draw investors, artisans, and diaspora representatives, making it a significant test of whether Gujarat's craft economy can be integrated into formal investment pipelines. The outcome of GI-pending registrations for Dahod bead work and Khambhat kites will also be closely watched by artisan communities in those districts.