Gujarat's VGRC 2025: Startups, GIFT City and GCC push in Surat on May 1-2
Synopsis
Gujarat is doubling down on three fronts at once — startups, global finance, and capability centres — at a single regional conference in Surat. With GIFT City's banking assets surging from $14 billion to $106.7 billion in five years and over 18,880 DPIIT-recognised startups, the state is making a pointed case that South Gujarat is no longer a footnote in India's economic story.
Key Takeaways
The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) will be held on 1–2 May 2025 at AURO University, Surat .
Gujarat has more than 18,880 DPIIT-recognised startups , ranking fifth nationally ; over 32% are in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
The state allocated ₹18.33 crore in seed funding and ₹137 crore in venture funding in 2024-25 .
GIFT City's IFSC banking assets grew from USD 14 billion in 2020 to USD 106.7 billion as of Q3 2025-26.
A Gujarat GCC Conclave will examine the state's Global Capability Centres policy for 2025–30 .
Gujarat is set to spotlight its 18,880-strong startup ecosystem, GIFT City expansion, and a new Global Capability Centres (GCC) policy at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC), scheduled for 1–2 May 2025 at AURO University, Surat. The two-day conference will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, startups, and international stakeholders to chart South Gujarat's role as a key growth engine in the state's next phase of economic development.
Startup Ecosystem in Focus
Gujarat's startup landscape will occupy a central position at the conference. The state government says it now hosts more than 18,880 DPIIT-recognised startups, placing Gujarat fifth nationally. Notably, more than 32% of these startups are based in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, reflecting a decentralised pattern of entrepreneurship that distinguishes Gujarat from metro-heavy startup ecosystems elsewhere.
The ecosystem is backed by over 210 government-funded incubators and more than 318 registered mentors. Gujarat has been ranked a
Point of View
GIFT City, and a GCC policy pitch into a single regional conference is a deliberate signal — South Gujarat is being repositioned from a textile-and-diamond belt into a multi-sector innovation corridor. GIFT City's banking asset jump from $14 billion to $106.7 billion in five years is the headline number that will travel internationally, but the more consequential story is whether the GCC policy for 2025-30 can convert intent into verifiable job creation. With Bengaluru and Hyderabad firmly entrenched as GCC hubs, Gujarat's pitch rests on regulatory arbitrage via IFSC and lower operational costs — advantages that are real but not permanent.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) 2025?
The VGRC is a two-day economic conference hosted by the Gujarat government on 1–2 May 2025 at AURO University in Surat. It focuses on startup growth, GIFT City's financial services expansion, and the state's new Global Capability Centres policy for 2025–30.
How large is Gujarat's startup ecosystem?
Gujarat has more than 18,880 DPIIT-recognised startups, placing it fifth nationally. Over 32% of these startups are located in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, supported by more than 210 government-funded incubators and 318 registered mentors.
What is GIFT City and why is it significant?
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, is India's first operational International Financial Services Centre spanning 886 acres. Its IFSC banking ecosystem held total assets of USD 106.7 billion as of Q3 2025-26, up sharply from USD 14 billion in 2020.
What is the Gujarat GCC Conclave at VGRC?
The Gujarat GCC Conclave, co-hosted by the Department of Science and Technology and GIFT City, will focus on the state's Global Capability Centres policy for 2025–30. It will cover policy frameworks, infrastructure readiness, skilled workforce availability, and regulatory reforms to attract global enterprises.
How much funding did Gujarat allocate to startups in 2024-25?
The Gujarat government allocated approximately ₹18.33 crore in seed funding and ₹137 crore in venture funding to innovation-led enterprises in 2024-25, according to official figures.
