2nd Edition of CII Gujarat Export Conclave :- “Our gateway to global success”
AHMEDABAD : The 2nd CII Gujarat Export Conclave concluded on Friday after bringing together key government officials, international diplomats, and over 100 industry delegates to empower Gujarat’s MSMEs with strategic insights for navigating the global trade landscape.
While setting the context, Mr Sunil Dave, Convenor, CII Gujarat Panel on International Trade and MD, BC Instruments India Pvt Ltd, highlighted India’s remarkable export performance: “India’s total exports reached a historic high of $824.9 billion in FY25, marking 6.01% growth, with the services sector achieving $387.5 billion – a robust 13.6% increase.”
Mr. Achal Bakeri, Vice-Chairman of CII Gujarat State Council, emphasized leveraging Gujarat’s global diaspora and cultural heritage as soft power assets, calling for transforming “Ease of Doing Business” into “Ease of Exporting 2.0” through deep-seated reforms.
The session gained a sense of purpose and continuity with the address by Mr. Kulin Lalbhai, Immediate Past Chairman, CII Gujarat State Council. Referencing his participation in the first edition of the conclave, he urged MSMEs to embrace innovation to adapt to rapidly evolving global trade dynamics.
With focus on the importance of a well-rounded approach towards exports, Mr Nilabhra Dasgupta, IRS, Deputy Chairman, Deendayal Port Authority, Kandla, delivered a special address on Gujarat’s maritime infrastructure: ” Gujarat’s ports handle over 40% of India’s cargo traffic, making them the backbone of our export ecosystem. By leveraging advanced port infrastructure and seamless connectivity, we can transform Gujarat into India’s premier export gateway. The synergy between efficient port operations and robust logistics networks will be crucial in achieving our ambitious export targets.”
A strategic panel discussion on the Export Opportunities and Roadmap for MSMEs panel, was moderated by Mr. Jalay Pandya, featured industry experts including Ms Aenna Jagga (Adani Ports & SEZ), Mr Subir Das (ECGC), Mr Deval Shah (Senores Pharmaceuticals Ltd), Mr Sanjay Notani (Economic Laws Practice), Mr Kartik Pancholi (FFFAI), and Dr Rajeev Sharma (EDII), who provided actionable strategies on credit security, legal compliance, and skill development.
The Global Partners’ Forum facilitated direct engagement with international diplomats, including Mr. Yann Sinclair (Australian Consulate), Ms. Eva Verstraelen (Flanders,Belgium), and Mr. Stephen Hickling and Ms Nandita Rajput (British Deputy High Commission), exploring bilateral trade opportunities in innovation, technology transfer, and sustainability.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Sunil Dave expressed optimism: “Today, we have not just discussed the roadmap; we have collectively started building it. We are not just opening gateways to global success—we are building bridges to a brighter, more connected world.”
The conclave was well attended by 150 experts from the field of exports, logistics, MSMEs and various sectors. It successfully demonstrated strong public-private partnership commitment to empowering MSMEs and strengthening Gujarat’s pivotal role in India’s export-driven growth story.