Gandhinagar, April 16 (IANS) Gujarat contributes 8.3 per cent to India’s gross domestic product (GDP), along with 18 per cent of the country’s industrial output and 31 per cent of exports, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said on Thursday after inaugurating a three-day trade expo in the state capital.
Addressing the opening of the Gujarat Advanced Technology and Economy Expo (GATE) 2026, organised by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Patel said, “The state’s economic performance reflects a development model built on the integration of trade and tradition, commerce and culture, and industry and entrepreneurship under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
The event, being held from April 16 to 18 at an exhibition centre in Gandhinagar, spans 18,000 square metres and features more than 16 sectors, including automobiles, renewable energy, information technology, pharmaceuticals and textiles, with a specific focus on artificial intelligence and cyber security.
CM Patel said the expo, themed ‘Gujarat Vision – Global Ambition’, is expected to provide a platform for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and young entrepreneurs to expand from local markets to global opportunities.
He expressed confidence that such initiatives would strengthen the state’s industrial ecosystem.
Referring to the Vibrant Gujarat summit, CM Patel said its continued success has helped position Gujarat as “a global gateway to the future”.
He added that industry bodies such as GCCI play a key role in policy-making by providing ground-level feedback and have worked in coordination with the state government in both planning and execution of such initiatives.
“Gujarat is advancing in emerging sectors including green growth, renewable energy, electric vehicle manufacturing and semiconductors, in line with the national objective of ‘Make in India, Made for the World’,” he noted.
CM Patel also noted that Gujarat is the first state to prepare a ‘Developed Gujarat @ 2047’ roadmap, based on the principle of “earning well, living well”, to contribute to the broader goal of a developed India.
GCCI President Sandeep Engineer said the event marks an important step towards strengthening industrial development in Gujarat and advancing the vision of ‘Viksit Gujarat to Viksit Bharat’.
“Around 610 exhibitors have registered for the expo, with more than 30,000 visitors already signed up, and the number is expected to reach 50,000,” he said.
–IANS
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