Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Monday, 29 June announced that the state government will develop Chhota Udepur district as India's next sports equipment manufacturing hub and transform Vadodara district into the country's largest Blue Economy hub. The announcements were made at the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC), where Sanghavi outlined a sweeping economic roadmap for Central Gujarat before investors, diplomats, and industry representatives.

The 20-Year Central Gujarat Master Plan

Sanghavi revealed that the state has prepared a 20-year 'Central Gujarat Economic Master Plan' covering sectors from traditional manufacturing to aerospace, defence, and the blue economy. 'We have prepared the Central Gujarat Economic Master Plan. The blueprint for the next 20 years is completely ready. Under this plan, we are moving forward to make Chhota Udepur India's next sports equipment hub. We are also working to develop Vadodara into the country's largest Blue Economy hub,' he said.

Central Gujarat currently contributes nearly 28 per cent of Gujarat's total manufacturing output. During the 2025-26 financial year, the region exported goods worth more than USD 20.5 billion to global markets — figures that underscore its outsized role in the state's economy.

Industrial Scale and Sectoral Dominance

The region hosts more than 65 Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) estates, with over 24,000 industrial plots currently operational. Sanghavi described Central Gujarat as the 'undisputed powerhouse' of the state's economy, citing its dominance across multiple sectors.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister, the region accounts for 92 per cent of Gujarat's automobile and auto component production, 70 per cent of beverage processing, and 63 per cent of pharmaceutical and electrical equipment manufacturing. 'We are not just participating in the global supply chain. We are leading it,' he said.

Aerospace and Defence: The Tata-Airbus C295 Milestone

Sanghavi devoted considerable attention to Vadodara's emerging aerospace and defence ecosystem, highlighting the Tata-Airbus C295 aircraft manufacturing facility as a landmark in India's industrial journey. 'Vadodara is home to the country's first Tata-Airbus C295 aircraft manufacturing facility. This is not merely a factory. It is the confidence of a new India,' he said.

He noted that the first C295 aircraft built in India had completed its maiden test flight from Vadodara, marking a symbolic shift from the country's earlier reliance on defence imports. 'At one time, travelling in an aircraft was India's dream. Today, India has begun manufacturing aircraft,' he said.

Heritage, Culture, and the Cooperative Legacy

Beyond industry, Sanghavi drew on Central Gujarat's historical and cultural identity. He referenced the 1918 Kheda Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi and credited the cooperative movement originating in Anand — anchored by Amul — with making the district the 'Milk Capital of India'.

He also highlighted the tribal heritage of Panchmahal, Mahisagar, Dahod, and Chhota Udepur as a source of regional pride, and pointed to the Statue of Unity in Narmada district as a national landmark drawing visitors from across India and abroad.

What Comes Next

With the 20-year master plan described as 'completely ready', the focus now shifts to implementation timelines, investment commitments from VGRC participants, and how the Centre's defence and blue economy policies align with Gujarat's sectoral bets. Whether Chhota Udepur and Vadodara can translate these ambitions into measurable industrial clusters will be the defining test of the roadmap.