- Over 100 Fortune 500 firms anchor Gujarat’s rise as India’s global investment magnet
- Bhupendra Patel pitches trillion-dollar vision, targets 10% share in national GDP
- Semiconductors, data centres, GCCs and defence power next growth wave
- Harsh Sanghavi bets big: data centre capacity to outpace rest of India combined
- Dholera, Sanand emerge as semiconductor and manufacturing powerhouses
- FICCI hails Gujarat as benchmark for high-value, export-led growth
RAJENDRAN G MUDALIAR
AHMEDABAD, APR 21
With more than 100 Fortune 500 companies operating within its borders, Gujarat is fast cementing its position as India’s most preferred destination for global capital, driven by policy clarity, infrastructure scale and industrial ambition.
Addressing the National Executive Committee meeting of FICCI, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel outlined a bold roadmap to transform the state into a trillion-dollar economy, targeting a 10% share in India’s GDP.
“Viksit Bharat means ‘Viksit Gujarat’ and FICCI will always be an active partner in this journey,” he said, linking the state’s growth trajectory with India’s 2047 development vision.
From industrial hub to innovation engine
The Chief Minister highlighted Gujarat’s emergence as a critical node in the global semiconductor ecosystem, with two fabrication plants already inaugurated under the Prime Minister’s guidance.
With GIFT City hosting an AI Centre of Excellence, data centres and fintech infrastructure, the state is rapidly transitioning from a manufacturing base to a technology-driven economy.
He also outlined forward-looking policies spanning green hydrogen, IT/ITeS, Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and semiconductors, reinforcing Gujarat’s institutional framework for sustained growth.
Data, defence & digital: The next frontier
At an industry interaction in Ahmedabad, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi identified data centres, semiconductors, defence manufacturing and aircraft production as sunrise sectors.
“Gujarat will install more data centre capacity over the next two to three years than the rest of India combined,” he asserted.
He confirmed that Asia’s largest semiconductor fabrication unit is coming up at Dholera, while a robust assembly and packaging ecosystem is taking shape in Sanand.
Beyond industry: Building a global city
Expanding the vision for Ahmedabad, Sanghavi announced large-scale infrastructure for entertainment and hospitality.
Concert venues with capacities ranging from 15,000 to 1.25 lakh are being developed near Narendra Modi Stadium, alongside new hotel projects.
“New policies for concerts, expos, and hotels will be announced soon,” he said, signalling Gujarat’s push into experiential and tourism-driven growth.
Industry applause & strategic confidence
FICCI President Anant Goenka underscored Gujarat’s economic strength: “Gujarat’s performance continues to inspire. The scale of industrial ambition… is positioning Gujarat as a hub for high-value manufacturing.”
He highlighted that despite having 5% of India’s population, Gujarat contributes over 8% of GDP, 30% of exports and 40% of cargo throughput.
Gokul Jaykrishna, Chair of the FICCI Gujarat State Council and Managing Director and CEO of Asahi Songwon Colours,, added: “Gujarat has consistently translated vision into action, setting benchmarks for the rest of the nation.”
Vijay Sankar, Senior Vice President, FICCI and Chairman of The Sanmar Group, noted: “Gujarat has set a landmark for all other states through policy clarity, infrastructure and investment attraction.”
Pankaj Patel, FICCI Past President and Chairman, Zydus Lifesciences Limited, emphasised: “The only way to grow from where we are today is through research.”
Pranav Adani, Director, Adani Enterprises,, highlighted major investments: “All of this is possible because of the vision and support of the state government.”
The road ahead
as gujarat accelerates toward a trillion-dollar milestone, its model—anchored in manufacturing excellence, innovation, ease of doing business and global integration—is increasingly being seen as a template for india’s economic future.
With strong government-industry collaboration and next-generation infrastructure in place, the state is not just growing—it is redefining the scale and speed of growth.
