Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday, 2 May announced that 2,792 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth ₹3.53 lakh crore were signed during the two-day Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) in Surat, with the projects expected to generate direct employment for more than 2.82 lakh youths over the next three years. Sanghavi made the announcement at the concluding session held at Auro University, describing the conference as a "historic" platform that showcased South Gujarat's industrial potential to the country and the world.

Scale of Investment and Employment Commitments

The 2,792 MoUs signed across the two-day event represent one of the largest single-conference investment commitments for the South Gujarat region. The projected 2.82 lakh direct jobs are expected to be created within three years, with the state government positioning the VGRC as a bridge between large industry and grassroots entrepreneurs. Sanghavi emphasised that the benefits of such conferences must reach small traders and entrepreneurs, not just large industrialists. "The direct benefit of the Vibrant Regional Conference should reach small entrepreneurs, and the government is working in that direction," he said.

New Initiative: Open Door Meetings for Industrialists

Announcing a structural change for future regional conferences, Deputy Chief Minister Sanghavi said that upcoming editions would feature 'open door meetings' to address concerns of existing industrialists on the spot. "Responsible government officials will directly interact so that issues can be resolved at the venue itself," he added. The move is aimed at reducing bureaucratic delays and making the conference format more actionable for businesses already operating in the state.

Policy Acceleration and Incentive Clearances

On the policy front, Sanghavi noted that the state has significantly accelerated incentive clearances. According to him, approximately 199 applications were cleared daily earlier — a figure that has since doubled and is expected to cross 500 per day in the near future. He also highlighted targeted efforts to promote non-polluting industries and the garment sector in tribal districts including Dang, Tapi, Valsad, and Navsari. "This will provide employment opportunities at the doorstep for more than 25,000 women in tribal areas over the next two years," he said.

Vibrant Gujarat's Two-Decade Legacy

Sanghavi credited the Vibrant Gujarat initiative — launched in 2003 by then Chief Minister Narendra Modi — as a cornerstone of the state's economic transformation. Gujarat's GDP has reportedly risen from ₹1.29 lakh crore at the time of the initiative's launch to ₹27.09 lakh crore at present. "The role of 'Team Gujarat' and the business community has been crucial in sustaining this growth over the past two decades despite challenges," he added. The VGRC in Surat is an extension of this larger Vibrant Gujarat framework, brought to a regional level to deepen industrial outreach beyond Gandhinagar.

Conference Highlights and What Comes Next

The two-day event featured business-to-business and business-to-government meetings, reverse buyers-sellers meets, and sectoral seminars. Awards were presented to the best MSE and MSME units across various categories, and handicraft artisans were also honoured. Deputy CM Sanghavi invited industrial units, young entrepreneurs, and citizens to visit the accompanying industrial exhibition, which remains open until 5 May. The sectoral deliberations from the conference are expected to serve as a policy and strategy reference for industry stakeholders in the months ahead.