Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], August 23 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called upon the Gujarati diaspora at the 'Garvi Gujarat Global New Jersey' programme to partner in the State's development journey on the seventh day of his US visit, as per the release.

He also interacted with young entrepreneurs and representatives from various sectors at the Young CEO Meet.

Presenting Gujarat's development journey to the Gujarati diaspora, the CM stated that the progress initiated during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat has helped establish the State as a growth engine of the country.

CM further stated that when PM Modi became Gujarat's Chief Minister in 2001, the State faced several challenges. Efforts were made to address issues related to electricity, water, roads, and coastal areas and set Gujarat on a new path of development, the release said.

He said that Gujarat is making a significant contribution to the country's economic growth today. While the State accounts for around 6 per cent of India's geographical area and about 5 per cent of its population, it contributes approximately 8.2 per cent to the country's GDP. The State aims to increase this contribution to over 10 per cent by 2030.

CM further said that Gujarat is planning not only for present development but also for the future. To build a Viksit Gujarat by 2047, the State has prepared a special roadmap. Gujarat has been divided into six zones, with key sectors, growth opportunities and long-term development targets identified for each zone. Work has now begun to implement this roadmap on the ground.

Highlighting GIFT City as an example of Gujarat's long-term vision, the Chief Minister said that the vision to develop it as a global Financial and Fintech hub was envisioned during 2006-07. He said this far-sighted vision reflected Gujarat's development-oriented approach. Today, GIFT City has established a distinct identity globally, creating opportunities for Gujarat's youth and contributing to the State's overall development.

He further stated that data centres are becoming increasingly important to the country's digital economy. Gujarat recognised the potential of this sector early and introduced a Data Centre Policy. The State is now planning to strengthen its position as a national leader in the data centre sector in the coming years.

The Chief Minister said that the number of MSMEs in Gujarat has increased from around 1.85 lakh in 2001-02 to approximately 27.9 lakh today. He said that, in addition to promoting entrepreneurship, the MSME sector is generating large-scale employment opportunities.

Emphasising Gujarat's contribution to the industrial and export sectors, he said that the State accounts for approximately 17 per cent of the country's manufacturing output and around 27 per cent of its total exports. Gujarat also handles approximately 40 per cent of the country's total cargo.

Gujarat accounts for approximately 33 per cent of the country's chemical industry, around 30 per cent of its pharmaceutical sector, nearly 50 per cent of man-made fibre production and around 65 per cent of denim production. The State contributes approximately 19.2 per cent of India's pharmaceutical exports and around 80 per cent of its diamond exports. CM further said that Gujarat has consistently remained a leader in the startup sector and has secured the top position in the State Startup Ranking for the past four years.

CM said that under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi, Gujarat's policy framework is strengthening the vision of 'Make in India' and 'Make for the World'. He said that transparency and clear policies are key pillars of Gujarat's development journey, with sector-specific policies and an investor-friendly framework in place for different sectors.

He said that the new Industrial Policy for 'Viksit Gujarat-2026' has created a more favourable environment for investment, industry and employment in the State. Along with sector-specific policies, the new Industrial Policy has been designed to meet the needs of different investors and industries.

The Chief Minister said that a strong financial foundation is essential for development. He noted that the foundation for financial discipline and sound financial management was laid during Prime Minister Modi's tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat. As a result, Gujarat today ranks among the financially strong States in the country. He said the State is moving ahead by focusing on both development and financial strength to build a stronger Gujarat.

Referring to the upcoming 11th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, the Chief Minister invited the Gujarati and Indian communities in the United States and Canada to visit Gujarat and explore investment opportunities in the State.

During the Young CEO Meet, the Chief Minister interacted with young entrepreneurs, CEOs, technology experts and business leaders from various sectors based in the United States. The discussion focused on Gujarat's development and investment potential, investment opportunities in the State, its investor-friendly policies and strong infrastructure, release said.

During the interaction with young entrepreneurs, the Chief Minister highlighted Gujarat's potential across new technologies, startups, fintech, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, data centres, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and other emerging sectors.

CM outlined Gujarat's industry-friendly ecosystem, transparent policy framework, skilled workforce and world-class connectivity. He invited young CEOs to explore new partnerships and investment opportunities in the State. (ANI)