సోషల్ మీడియా కార్నర్ 11 జనవరి 2026

Greetings!

Honourable Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Bhai Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, other Ministers of the Gujarat Government, Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly, Excellencies, representatives of industry, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

This is my first visit to Gujarat after the beginning of 2026. It is especially auspicious because my journey this year began with bowing my head at the feet of Somnath Dada. And now, I am here in Rajkot, participating in this magnificent programme. Development and heritage—this mantra is resonating everywhere. I warmly welcome and extend my greetings to all of you who have come from across the country and the world to the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit.

Friends,

Whenever the stage of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit is set, I do not see it merely as a summit. I see the journey of modern India in the 21st century—a journey that began with a dream and has now reached an unshakable trust. In two decades, this journey of Vibrant Gujarat has become a global benchmark. Ten editions have already been held, and with each edition, the identity and role of this summit have grown stronger.

Friends,

I have been associated with the vision of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit since its very inception. In the early days, our aim was to make the world aware of Gujarat’s potential, to invite people here, to encourage investment—so that India would benefit, and global investors too would benefit. But today, this summit has gone beyond investment; it has become a strong platform for global growth, international cooperation, and partnerships. Over the years, the number of global partners has steadily increased, and with time, this summit has also become a great example of inclusion. Here, corporate groups, cooperatives, MSMEs, start-ups, multilateral and bilateral organisations, international financial institutions—all come together, engage in dialogue, deliberate, and walk shoulder to shoulder with Gujarat’s development.

Friends,

Over the past two decades, the Vibrant Gujarat Summit has consistently introduced something new, something special. This Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit is another such example. Its focus is on transforming the untapped potential of different parts of Gujarat into performance. For instance, some regions have the strength of a coastal line, others have a long tribal belt, some have a large ecosystem of industrial clusters, while others have a rich tradition of agriculture and animal husbandry. In other words, each region of Gujarat has its own unique strength. The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit is moving forward by focusing on these regional possibilities.

Friends,

A quarter of the 21st century has already passed. In these years, India has made rapid progress, and Gujarat—and all of you—have played a major role in this. India is moving swiftly towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy. The data clearly shows that the world’s expectations from India are continuously rising. India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world. Inflation is under control. In agriculture production, India is setting new records. India is number one in milk production. India is number one in generic medicine production. And when it comes to vaccine manufacturing, the country that produces the highest number of vaccines in the world is India.

Friends,

India’s growth fact sheet is the success story of the mantra Reform, Perform & Transform. In the past 11 years, India has become the world’s largest consumer of mobile data. Our UPI has emerged as the world’s number one real-time digital transaction platform. Once, 9 out of 10 mobile phones were imported. Today, India is the world’s second-largest mobile manufacturer. India now has the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem. In solar power generation too, India is among the top three countries. We are the third-largest aviation market, and in terms of metro networks, India is now among the world’s top three.

Friends,

Today, every global expert and institution is bullish about India. The IMF calls India the engine of global growth. S&P has upgraded India’s rating after 18 years. Fitch Ratings praises India’s macro stability and fiscal credibility. The world’s trust in India is because, amidst great global uncertainty, India is experiencing an unprecedented era of certainty. Today, India has political stability, policy continuity, and an expanding neo-middle class with rising purchasing power. These factors have made India a land of limitless possibilities. As I said from the Red Fort—this is the time, the right time. For every investor in India and across the world, this is the time, the right time to seize these opportunities. The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit too is sending the same message to all investors—invest in Saurashtra-Kutch, this is the time, the right time.

Friends,

You all know that Saurashtra and Kutch are regions that teach us that no matter how big the challenge, if one perseveres with honesty and hard work, success is certain. This is the same Kutch that endured a devastating earthquake at the start of this century. This is the same Saurashtra that faced years of drought. Mothers and sisters had to walk miles for drinking water. Electricity was uncertain, and difficulties were everywhere.

Friends,

Today’s youth of 20–25 years have only heard stories of that era. The reality was that people were unwilling to stay long in Kutch or Saurashtra. At that time, it seemed these conditions would never change. But history bears witness—time changes, and it surely changes. The people of Saurashtra and Kutch transformed their destiny through their hard work.

Friends,

Today, Saurashtra and Kutch are not just regions of opportunity; they have become anchor regions of India’s growth. They are emerging as major centres driving the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign. In making India a global manufacturing hub, Saurashtra and Kutch are playing a vital role—and this role is market-driven. This is the greatest assurance for investors. Right here in Rajkot, there are more than 250,000 MSMEs. In its diverse industrial clusters, everything is produced—from screwdrivers to auto parts, machine tools, luxury car liners, airplane, fighter jet and rocket components. This region supports the entire value chain—from low-cost manufacturing to high-precision, high-technology manufacturing. And the jewellery industry here is world-renowned. This sector is a shining example of scale, skill, and global linkage.

Friends,

Alang is the world’s largest ship-breaking yard, where one-third of the world’s ships are recycled. This is proof of India’s leadership in the circular economy. India is among the largest producers of tiles, with Morbi district making a huge contribution. Manufacturing here is cost-competitive and globally benchmarked. I recall—many of you from the Saurashtra press may remember—once in a speech here I said I could see a time when Morbi, Jamnagar, and Rajkot would form a triangle like a mini-Japan. I was ridiculed then, but today I see that vision becoming reality before my eyes. We are also proud of the Dholera Special Investment Region. Today, this city is becoming a major centre of modern manufacturing. India’s first semiconductor fabrication facility is coming up in Dholera. This region is giving India an early-mover advantage in future technologies. The ground is fully prepared for your investment here—Infrastructure is ready, policy is predictable, and vision is long-term.

Friends,

Saurashtra and Kutch are also becoming major hubs of India’s green growth, green mobility, and energy security. In Kutch, a renewable energy park of 30 gigawatt capacity is being built—the world’s largest hybrid energy park. Imagine, this park will be five times bigger than the city of Paris. Here, clean energy is not just a commitment but a commercial-scale reality. You are all aware of the potential of green hydrogen. India is working at unprecedented speed and scale in this direction. Kutch and Jamnagar are becoming major centres of green hydrogen production. A massive Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) is also being established in Kutch. This ensures grid stability and reliability alongside renewable energy.

Friends,

Kutch and Saurashtra have yet another great strength. This region is equipped with India’s world-class ports. A large share of India’s exports passes through here. Ports like Pipavav and Mundra have become major hubs for India’s automobile exports. Last year alone, nearly 175,000 vehicles were exported through Gujarat’s ports. And it is not just logistics—there are limitless investment opportunities in every aspect of port-led development. Alongside this, the Gujarat government is giving special priority to the fisheries sector. Large-scale work has been done on fisheries infrastructure, and a strong ecosystem has been created here for investors in seafood processing.

Friends,

Along with infrastructure, an industry-ready workforce is today’s greatest need. Gujarat provides complete certainty to investors on this front. Here, an international ecosystem of education and skill development exists. Gujarat’s Skill University is preparing youth with future-ready skills, working in collaboration with universities in Australia and Singapore. The National Defence University is India’s first national-level defence university. Gati Shakti University is preparing skilled manpower for every sector—road, railway, airway, waterways, and logistics. This means that along with investment, the talent pipeline is also assured. Today, many foreign universities are seeing new opportunities in India, and Gujarat is becoming their preferred destination. Two major Australian universities have already started their campuses here, and this number will grow further in the coming years.

Friends,

Gujarat offers nature, adventure, culture, and heritage. Whatever tourism experience one seeks, it is available here. Lothal is a symbol of India’s 4,500-year-old maritime heritage. The world’s oldest man-made dockyard has been found here, and a National Maritime Heritage Complex is being developed. In Kutch, the Rann Utsav is being celebrated these days, and staying in its tent city is a unique experience.

For wildlife enthusiasts, what could be better than seeing the Asiatic lion in Gir Forest? More than 900,000 tourists visit here every year. For those who love the sea, there is Shivrajpur Beach, which is Blue Flag certified. In addition, Mandvi, Somnath, and Dwarka also offer immense possibilities for beach tourism. Nearby Diu is becoming a wonderful destination for water sports and beach games. This entire region is full of strength and opportunities for investors. I urge you to make the most of it. And as I have long said—if you delay, do not blame me. Every investment you make in Saurashtra-Kutch will accelerate Gujarat’s development, and India’s development.

The strength of Saurashtra is also seen abroad. The High Commissioner of Rwanda recently recalled that when I visited Rwanda, I gifted 200 Gir cows. But there was a special rule: the first female calf born had to be returned, and then given to another family. From those 200 cows, today thousands of families in Rwanda have cows. Gir cows are now seen in every household, giving great strength to Rwanda’s rural economy. This is the spirit of Saurashtra.

Friends,

Today’s India is working rapidly towards the goal of becoming a developed nation. And in achieving this goal, the Reform Express plays a major role. Reform Express means next-generation reforms in every sector. Recently, India implemented next-generation GST reforms, which have had a positive impact across sectors, especially benefiting our MSMEs. Riding the Reform Express, India has carried out a major reform in the insurance sector—allowing 100 percent FDI. This will accelerate the campaign to provide universal insurance coverage to citizens. Similarly, after nearly six decades, the income tax law has been modernized, benefiting millions of taxpayers. India has also implemented historic labour reforms, giving wages, social security, and industry a unified framework. Workers and industry alike are benefiting from this.

India is becoming a global hub for data-driven innovation, AI research, and semiconductor manufacturing. India’s power demand is rising steadily, and assured energy is essential. A major source of this is nuclear power. Keeping this in mind, we have introduced next-generation reforms in the nuclear power sector. In the last session of Parliament, through the Shanti Act, civil nuclear energy has been opened up for private partnership. This is a huge opportunity for investors.

Friends,

I assure all investors present here—our Reform Express will not stop. India’s reform journey has now advanced towards institutional transformation.

You have not come here merely with an MoU. You have come here to connect with the development and heritage of Saurashtra-Kutch. I assure you, every rupee of your investment will yield excellent returns here. Once again, I extend my warmest greetings to all of you. I also congratulate and commend the Government of Gujarat and its team for their efforts. Before the Vibrant Summit of 2027, this regional summit is proving to be a valuable experiment. And I feel immense joy that the work I had the opportunity to initiate is now being expanded and infused with new energy by my colleagues. This multiplies my happiness many times over. My heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all of you. Thank you!