Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Monday, 31 August made a strong pitch for the state's investment credentials at the curtain-raiser of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) 2027, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Sanghavi underscored Gujarat's track record of combining policy vision with on-ground execution as the state formally opened its doors to domestic and international investors ahead of the main summit in January 2027.

Vision Meets Execution

Addressing senior state and Central government officials, industry leaders, and investors, Sanghavi framed Gujarat's growth philosophy in direct terms. 'Vision without execution is just a speech, and execution without vision is just a rush of activity. Gujarat has set an example for the nation by combining a clear vision with swift and effective execution,' he said.

He described the state government as operating like 'Team Gujarat' — an administration that seeks to understand business requirements, back ideas, and generate new opportunities through a relationship of mutual trust between government and industry.

Gujarat's Economic Transformation in Numbers

Sanghavi cited a sweeping economic trajectory to make the case for Gujarat's investment readiness. The state's economy, he said, stood at approximately ₹1.42 lakh crore in 2002-03 and has since grown to roughly ₹27 lakh crore — a near-nineteen-fold expansion over two decades.

Despite accounting for just 5 per cent of India's population and 6 per cent of its geographical area, Gujarat contributes 8.2 per cent of the country's GDP and approximately 18 per cent of its total manufacturing output, according to figures presented by Sanghavi.

On foreign investment, he said Gujarat had attracted USD 74.6 billion in foreign direct investment, while its ports handle more than 40 per cent of India's total cargo — a figure that underscores the state's centrality to the country's trade infrastructure.

Investor Assurance and Administrative Reforms

Sanghavi moved to address a perennial concern among investors — whether commitments made at summits are actually honoured. 'Every rupee invested in Gujarat is secure and assured of appropriate returns,' he said, adding that the government had fulfilled every incentive commitment made over the past 25 years.

On administrative efficiency, he pointed to a concrete reform: the Industries Department has increased its daily processing of incentive files from 160 to 395, with a target to push this further to 500 files per day. He said the state was also working to improve the speed and transparency of clearance mechanisms.

Sectors Driving the Next Phase

Sanghavi highlighted Gujarat's evolution beyond traditional industries, pointing to newer growth engines including semiconductors and port-led development as areas where the state is actively building capacity. He said this sectoral diversification reflected the confidence accumulated over 25 years of consistent industrial policy.

The Deputy Chief Minister formally invited investors and entrepreneurs from India and abroad to participate in VGGS 2027 as partners in Gujarat's next growth phase. The main summit is scheduled for January 2027.