Gujarat CM launches ‘Economic Development Plan’ for Surat Economic Region as a growth hub
SURAT : The ‘Economic Development Plan‘ for the Surat Economic Region, encompassing the districts of Navsari, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, and Valsad, was officially launched in Surat. Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel emphasized that this master plan is more than a mere document; it represents a commitment to reshape the economic landscape of these districts. The plan identifies key development areas such as sustainable agriculture, real estate, tourism, IT, and logistics. Held at Le Meridien Hotel on Dumas Road, Surat, the event saw participation from prominent figures and representatives across various sectors, including business, academia, diamond-textile, dyeing and printing, gems and jewellery, health, hospitality, the cooperative sector, sugar mills, APMC, food processing, aqua farming, Presidents of GIDC, CA, CREDAI, and Solar Energy. The Chief Minister, alongside other dignitaries, unveiled the Economic Development Plan.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the rapid and sustainable development of the Surat region aligns with the Central Government’s vision, and Gujarat is well-positioned to meet this promise. This initiative is expected to rekindle and elevate Gujarat’s development model. Additionally, the Chief Minister outlined that under the Viksit Bharat@2047 initiative, the government aims to expand Gujarat’s economy to $3.5 trillion by 2047 and create 34 lakh new jobs. With the Prime Minister’s guidance, Gujarat has become the country’s growth engine, with Surat serving as the central growth engine of Gujarat and a crucial hub of economic activity in the state. The Chief Minister stated that the state government is ready to lead the nation by advancing Viksit Gujarat during the Amrit Kaal. Surat has prepared the country’s first economic development plan under the guidance of NITI Aayog. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that this plan will fulfil the vision of Viksit Gujarat to Viksit Bharat, noting that the ‘Growth Hub Program’ will support the Prime Minister’s “Viksit Bharat@2047” initiative, which aims to make India a $30 trillion economy by 2047. He praised the central government’s strategic urban development efforts and thanked NITI Aayog for including Surat and six other Gujarat districts in this initiative. The Chief Minister also pointed out NITI Aayog’s key initiative in the holistic development of Surat and its surrounding areas, often termed ‘Laghu Bharat’ (Little India) by the Prime Minister. He mentioned that a similar forward-looking master plan will be considered for North Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Central Gujarat.
The CM proudly stated that Surat’s manufacturing sector contributes 55 per cent to the State GDP, compared to the state’s overall manufacturing contribution of 36 per cent. This success is due to traditional industries like textiles, gems and jewellery, diamonds, chemicals, and dyes. In alignment with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat, the state government is dedicated to achieving the aim of Viksit Gujarat @ 2047 ahead of schedule. The Chief Minister emphasized that Gujarat, being policy-driven and with sector-specific policies, has become the best choice of investment for both domestic and international entrepreneurs.
With robust logistics, infrastructure, and a tradition of Ease of Doing Business, Gujarat serves as a role model for national development. The Chief Minister noted that the state has transformed the limited resources inherited by Gujarat into a robust driver of development. He highlighted that the Vibrant Summit, launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during his tenure as Chief Minister, has established Gujarat as a global hub for manufacturing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors. He further mentioned that for decades after 1960, Gujarat’s development was confined to the Vapi-Tapina belt.
At that time, the state faced challenges due to its geography—sea, desert, and hills—and lacked the infrastructure for electricity, water, and roads. However, over the last two decades, Gujarat has accelerated its development. The progress achieved since 2001 has set a benchmark for the scale and pace of development. The Chief Minister stated that the new economic development plan will serve as a roadmap for the advancement of Surat and the other five districts. The state government is advancing with a development action plan focused on the next 25 years. The Gujarat State Institution for Transformation (GRIT), modelled on NITI Aayog, has also been established to expedite the state’s development vision.
Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, emphasized Surat’s crucial role in the overall development of the Surat region and conveyed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for the Government of India’s confidence in the city. Acknowledging the capability of Surat’s businessmen and industrialists, who manage multimillion-dollar transactions with remarkable efficiency, the Government of India has developed an economic master plan and has placed complete faith in the people of Surat. The implementation of this master plan by NITI Aayog is expected to transform the Surat region into a key growth engine for the country’s development. The Minister affirmed that, with the implementation of this NITI Aayog master plan, the Surat region is set to become a key growth engine for the nation’s development. Shri C.R. Patil, in seeking collective support for the advancement of Surat and its surrounding areas, suggested incorporating Surat’s medical instrument manufacturing capacity into the master plan. He also mentioned the significant world-class projects being developed in Surat and the region.
CEO, NITI Aayog. Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, elaborated on the economic development plan, noting the significant opportunities for growth in Surat and its five neighbouring districts. He emphasized that the Surat Economic Zone has a strong potential for balanced development. The CEO explained that NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Gujarat government and Surat’s local administration, has spent a year developing this comprehensive economic plan.
The CEO remarked that Surat, as a growth driver, will play a pivotal role in advancing not only Gujarat but also India. He anticipated that the development in Surat would surpass even that of London. He outlined four key criteria for city development: Baseline, Growth Indicators, City Living Standards, and Social Infrastructure, all of which are prominently evident in Surat. He praised the Government of Gujarat for creating the country’s first dynamic vision document aligned with the Viksit Bharat@2047 initiative. Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam further noted that Surat has potential for development in areas such as road and railway connectivity, airport, and sea. The plan aims to attract global companies to Surat and elevate local businesses to an international level, with a focus on creating a globally competitive city in road infrastructure, education, and health, and establishing Surat as a major centre for diamond and jewellery trade.
Shri Raj Kumar, the Chief Secretary of the State, stated that the implementation of the Economic Development Plan will lead to the Surat region’s growth rate surpassing that of the entire state. This plan, which envisions the next 50 years, uses a range of parameters including economic, social, industrial, educational, and road connectivity to position Surat as a growth hub. It also addresses various aspects such as economic development, skill training, dairy farming, industrial progress, tribal development, and the specific needs of each city and district within the region.
To achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Central Government, guided by NITI Aayog, aims to develop rapidly growing cities and their surrounding areas into Growth Hubs. Surat, along with Varanasi, Mumbai, and Vizag, has been identified as a key Growth Hub, encompassing Surat, Navsari, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, and Valsad districts.
The event was attended by Shri Kanubhai Desai, Minister of Finance and Energy; Shri Balvantsinh Rajput, Minister of Industries, Cottage Industries, Labor, and Employment; Shri Mukesh Patel, Minister of State for Forest Environment; Shri Harsh Sanghvi, Minister of State for Home; Shri Praful Pansheria, Minister of State for Education; MP Shri Mukesh Dalal, Shri Prabhu Vasava, Shri Mansukh Vasava; Rajya Sabha MP Shri Govind Dholakia; Principal Adviser to the Chief Minister Dr Hasmukh Adhia; District Panchayat President Smt. Bhavini Patel; Mayor Shri Dakshesh Mavani; District Collector Dr Saurabh Pardhi; District Development Officer Shivani Goyal; Police Commissioner Shri Anupam Sinh Gehlaut; Former Union Minister Smt. Darshana Zardosh; along with Gujarat MLAs, Collectors of the five districts of the Surat region, District Development Officers, various industry and cooperative leaders, officials, and representatives of NITI Aayog.