Gandhinagar : With the objective of making Gujarat more globally competitive and technologically advanced through innovation, the 'Viksit Gujarat Summit 2026' was organised at GIFT City, Gandhinagar, following the directives of Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia remained specially present on the occasion. The Chief Minister stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the country a simple yet effective understanding of development politics through the "Politics of Performance." He said that 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Gujarat' represents a vision of holistic development, including economic progress, where every citizen receives equal opportunities, a quality life, and a bright future.
He added that the Prime Minister has given the guiding mantra of "Sauno Saath, Sauno Vikas, Sauno Vishwas and Sauno Prayas" to ensure that the benefits of development reach every section of society.
Referring to National Handloom Day on 7 August, he said that the Prime Minister initiated its observance in 2015, the second year after assuming office. By promoting the 'Vocal for Local' approach, the Prime Minister has introduced several welfare initiatives to support the socio-economic development of handloom artisans and other Antyodaya beneficiaries, providing global market access to their products and opening new avenues of development.
Gujarat has continuously benefited from his visionary leadership over the past 25 years, and PM Narendra Modi laid the strong foundation for the state's holistic development. The Chief Minister emphasised that Gujarat's development is reflected not only in statistics but also in the improved quality of life of every citizen. He said that Viksit Gujarat has emerged as the country's growth engine and a role model for development due to the Prime Minister's unwavering commitment and inspiration.
Gujarat, already India's manufacturing hub, auto hub, and leader in renewable energy-driven green growth, is now rapidly emerging as a technology hub as well. Speaking on the occasion, he said that three semiconductor plants have become operational in Gujarat, establishing the state as a major player on the global technology map. Along with this new industry, an entirely new ecosystem is taking shape.
The State Government has recently announced the GCC and Data Centre Policy, which will facilitate the establishment of hyperscale data centres in the coming years. He added that Gujarat will derive significant benefits from the tax holiday announced by the Government of India for data centres until 2047.
The Chief Minister stated that the AI Centre of Excellence at GIFT City has become an important bridge between technology and industry. The developed banking and financial ecosystem in GIFT City has also enabled the availability of high-quality services in the sector. Owing to the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit and Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conferences, Gujarat has emerged as the 'Global Gateway to the Future' through industrial development and has become the 'Best Choice of Investment' for new industries and foreign investments.
He further said that according to the recently released Investment Friendliness Index 2026 by NITI Aayog, Gujarat has ranked first in the country in attracting foreign investment. The state received cumulative FDI worth US$73.9 billion between April 2020 and 2025 and has consistently remained the country's top destination for cumulative FDI since 2019.
He added that the State Government provides entrepreneurs with a robust industrial ecosystem backed by sustainable governance and policy-driven administration, resulting in employment generation, promotion of innovation, and improvement in citizens' quality of life.
Chief Minister clarified that the true essence of 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Gujarat' lies in ensuring that the benefits of development lead to the economic and social prosperity of every citizen. To achieve this, the State has balanced both economy and ecology through the concept of 'Earning Well, Living Well.' He said that campaigns such as 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam,' natural farming, and Amrit Sarovar construction are helping build a climate-resilient Gujarat in the face of climate change challenges.
Expressing hope that The Economic Times would also become a medium for promoting awareness on ecological balance, he expressed confidence that Viksit Gujarat would lead the collective journey towards achieving the Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Chief Minister congratulated the entire team of The Economic Times for successfully organising the 'Viksit Gujarat Summit,' describing it as an excellent platform to evaluate and project the state's roadmap for economic development.
Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided a new direction to the development of Gujarat and the nation. There was a time when only ISRO was engaged in the space sector, but today nearly 50 startups have presented their prototypes. He said it is a matter of pride that most of these startups have already tied up with venture funds and secured patents.
He said that just as the sky has no limits, Gujarat today is witnessing rapid progress in sunrise sectors such as space technology, electronics, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. While Gujarat has always remained a leader in pharmaceuticals, textiles, and chemicals, it is now strengthening its position in emerging sectors, including advanced technologies. He expressed confidence that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat will become the number one state in sunrise sectors within the next five years.
He said that the Chief Minister has never declined any development project due to financial constraints. Gujarat today possesses the vision, financial strength, and infrastructure required for investments across diverse sectors. He invited all investors and stakeholders present at the summit to establish businesses in Gujarat and become partners in India's development journey.
On the occasion, Ambassador of Denmark H E Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen expressed his happiness over visiting Gujarat and said that the integrated use of solar energy, wind energy, and battery storage, along with the massive scale of the Khavda Renewable Energy Park, is truly remarkable.