Vadodara: The fourth Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) of the Central Gujarat region, held in Vadodara, concluded on Tuesday in the presence of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The conference, held on the theme of ‘Regional Aspiration-Global Ambition’, saw 3,759 MoUs signed for a total investment of over Rs 3 lakh 34 thousand crore, which is expected to create more than 1 lakh 97 thousand jobs in the state.

At the closing ceremony, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that Gujarat has fulfilled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Inclusive Development’ through the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference. He said that due to the Prime Minister’s mantra of reform, perform and transform, a conducive environment has been created for industries and the economy in the country, and programs like the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and VGRC have proven to be take-off platforms for industrialists.

The Chief Minister said that even in the current global geopolitical situation, the Prime Minister has fully protected the interests of Indian industries. At the same time, through innovation and the startup ecosystem, skilled youth and new entrepreneurs have got new opportunities for development.

Defence production reaches ₹1.78 lakh crore: Rajnath Singh

Addressing the closing ceremony, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that there has been a historic change in India’s defence sector in the last one decade. In the year 2014, the country’s defence production was ₹46 thousand crore, which has now increased to a record level of ₹1.78 lakh crore. Along with this, India has also achieved defence exports of ₹39 thousand crore.

He said that today India is moving towards self-reliance and has established a strong identity at the global level. “Now, when India speaks on the international stage, the entire world listens attentively. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has hoisted India’s flag in the world,” he said.

Praising the entrepreneurial nature of Gujarat, the Defence Minister said that Gujaratis have a unique ability to turn disasters into opportunities. He expressed confidence that Gujarat can become an important hub of defence manufacturing due to its strong industrial infrastructure, skills, and entrepreneurship.

Referring to the Tata Airbus C-295 project in Vadodara, he said that the country’s first private military aircraft manufacturing facility is a matter of pride for Gujarat. Besides, the semiconductor projects in Sanand and Dholera, chemical and petrochemical industries, electronics, ports, and shipbuilding sectors can also make the country’s defence sector stronger.

Huge potential for Gujarat in fisheries

At the closing ceremony, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh called for making Gujarat the country’s powerhouse in inland fisheries. He emphasized the use of water resources available in the state, blue economy opportunities, artificial intelligence, IoT, hatchery systems, the cold chain, and the modern transportation system.

He said that currently Gujarat’s inland fisheries account for only two percent of the country’s total fish exports, and that the state has huge potential to increase this share.

Zydus Group Chairman Ajay Ranka and Rubamin Chairman and Managing Director Atul Dalmia also presented their views at the ceremony. At the beginning of the program, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, Mamta Verma gave a presentation on the achievements of VGRC, while artisans and entrepreneurs from various sectors were also honoured. DeshGujarat