Gandhinagar, May 22 (PTI) The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) focusing on the central part of the state is scheduled to be held in Vadodara during the last week of June, officials said on Friday.

The region encompasses Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Anand, Kheda, Panchmahal, Dahod, Chhotaudepur, Narmada, and Mahisagar districts, accounting for 28 per cent of Gujarat's total manufacturing output, an official release said.

As per district-level data from Annual Survey of Industries 2022-23, central Gujarat contributed 93 per cent of the state's total other transport equipment manufacturing output (which includes railway locomotives, rolling stock, air and spacecraft, two and three-wheeled vehicles), 92 per cent of auto and auto components, 70 per cent of beverages, and 63 per cent each of pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.

Around 62 per cent of the total area within Gujarat is covered under the influence area of Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), making the state an ideal destination for investors, the release added.

There are two flagship projects of central Gujarat region in various phases of development, namely the 5,560 acre Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR) and the 2,849 acre Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (MBSIR).

"Vadodara's chemicals and petrochemicals sector accounted for 61 per cent of the district's total manufacturing output. Ahmedabad leads in auto and auto Components (18 pc), textiles (15 pc), basic metals (13 pc), and pharmaceuticals (9 pc). Gandhinagar's manufacturing output is driven by food processing (18 pc), basic metals (17 pc), and chemicals (14 pc)," the release stated.

The state capital also leads the region's electronics and financial technology sectors through the presence of GIFT City, supported by its academic institutions, while Anand's manufacturing base is built on agro and dairy processing (50 pc) and chemicals (12 pc), the release said.

Panchmahal draws its strength from the auto and auto components (23 pc), rubber and plastics (19 pc), and pharmaceuticals (15 pc) sectors.

"Kheda is driven by rubber and plastics products (23 pc) and food processing (22 pc). Narmada's output is dominated by food processing (92 pc), while Chhotaudepur contributed through agro and food processing (56 pc) and Dahod through food processing (48pc)," the release noted.

According to the release, in FY 2024-25, the region's total exports reached USD 20.54 billion, extending central Gujarat's commercial reach across more than 219 countries.

Pharmaceuticals led the export basket at USD 3.67 billion (17.8 pc), followed by nuclear reactors, boilers and machinery at USD 2.79 billion (13.6 pc), electrical machinery and equipment at USD 1.79 billion (8.7 pc), road vehicles and parts at USD 1.47 billion (7 pc), organic chemicals at USD 1.45 billion (7 pc), and dyeing, tanning and colouring matter at USD 1.03 billion (5 pc).

The USA was the largest export destination, accounting for 23.8 per cent ( USD 4.88 billion) of the total, followed by the UAE at 7.3 per cent, Thailand at 3 per cent, the UK at 2.8 per cent, and Saudi Arabia at 2.7 per cent, it added.

For the upcoming VGRC (central Gujarat), the focus sectors include semiconductors & electronics, IT & ITeS, biotech, pharmaceuticals, aerospace & defence, fintech, auto & auto components, dairy & food processing, education, chemicals & petrochemicals, textiles & apparels, green energy ecosystem, skill development, startups, MSMEs, and tourism & culture, the release said.

VGRC focuses on tourism and culture as a stimulus for regional economic growth.

By promoting heritage tourism and world-class destinations such as the Statue of Unity, central Gujarat aims to attract international visitors and boost local economic activity, it said.

The central Gujarat region stands out as a diverse high-potential version of the state's broader tourism strategy, officials noted.

"Central Gujarat boasts a dense concentration of spiritual, historical, and archaeological landmarks, anchored by iconic sites such as Ahmedabad's Gandhi Ashram, Vadodara's Laxmi Vilas Palace, Gandhinagar's Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, and Panchmahal's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park," the release said.

The region drives initiatives like eco-tourism and experiential travel, focusing on Narmada's globally renowned Statue of Unity, the Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary, and Panchmahal's scenic Pavagadh Hill corridor.

Furthermore, with major urban centres hosting state-of-the-art facilities like Gandhinagar's Mahatma Mandir, the region acts as a primary hub for lucrative MICE tourism, it added.

Each edition of VGRC brought together industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and academic institutions in a focused regional format, channelling the larger Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit's ethos into concentrated, sector-specific dialogue aligned with the goals of Viksit Bharat@2047, the release said.

The inaugural edition for north Gujarat, held in Mehsana (October 2025), witnessed 1,264 MoUs, projecting investments of Rs 3.25 lakh crore, with 29,000 registrations and participation of 440 international delegates from more than 80 countries, it noted.

This was followed by the Kutch and Saurashtra edition in Rajkot (January 2026) which witnessed 5,492 MoUs with proposed investments of Rs 5.78 lakh crore, 29,000 registrations, as well as participation of 400 international delegates from 57 countries.

In the recent south Gujarat edition in Surat (May 2026), 2,792 MoUs with proposed investments of Rs 3.53 lakh crore were signed, drawing 20,000 registrations and 150 international delegates from 27 countries, the release said. PTI KVM PD BNM