Gandhinagar: Shubhanshu Shukla, the first ISRO astronaut to visit the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 4, will be attending the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) for North Gujarat. The conference will be held from October 9 to 10, 2025, at Ganpat University, Mehsana.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will inaugurate the event, which will also see the presence of Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw, and ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan.

According to an official statement, before the inaugural ceremony, the dignitaries will visit and experience the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition, showcasing cutting-edge innovations, products, and technologies from diverse sectors. The event aims to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, MSMEs, startups, overseas buyers, large companies, government departments, PSUs, and global partners to advance the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Vocal for Local, and sustainable economic growth.

VGRC North Gujarat will feature strong international participation, with partner countries including Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. The Netherlands will be the partner country for agriculture sector-specific seminars. Prominent partner organizations include the World Bank, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Trade Representation of the Russian Federation, Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC), and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).

Spanning an expansive 18,000 sq. m. exhibition area, the trade show will feature over 400 exhibitors from sectors such as Agro & Food Processing, Renewable Energy, and corporate giants including Torrent, Welspun, NHPC, NTPC, Kosol, Suzlon, Avaada, Nirma, INOX, Adani, Maruti Suzuki, Power Grid, and ONGC.

The event will host dedicated pavilions for Agri-Tech, Green Energy, and Food-Tech, featuring public sector units, MSMEs, cottage industries, and rural startups—offering a diverse showcase of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally, there will be exclusive international pavilions for Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, fostering bilateral trade, investment partnerships, and technological exchange.

As part of the exhibition, a Vendor Development Program (VDP) will be organized with participation from Dudhsagar Dairy, ONGC, Western Railway, McCain Foods, and others, aimed at strengthening industry linkages and promoting local enterprise development. Furthermore, a Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) will bring together 34 international buyers from 17 countries, promoting trade and business opportunities. Over 500 meetings are planned between buyers and local sellers to boost exports.

In the spirit of ‘Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar Ghar Swadeshi’, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference will celebrate local entrepreneurship, rural innovation, and community-driven growth, reaffirming Gujarat’s pivotal role in India’s development journey, the government said in a press release. DeshGujarat