Leading the roadshow for the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat event in Kolkata, Minister Harsh Sanghavi on Tuesday invited investors and businessmen from West Bengal to explore his state.

"We are always there to help and assist you with the policies framed by the Gujarat government. I believe that Gujarat's industrial infrastructure, favourable policies, and industry-friendly approach will be beneficial for West Bengal, Gujarat, and our country," the Gujarat Minister said addressing a gathering of industry representatives and investors.

"We are inviting you all to Gujarat to explore the state," he said.

In his unique way of pitching for the state, Sanghavi reflected the similarity in the cultures of West Bengal and Gujarat and said: "I have visited several parts of West Bengal and I have seen so many similarities between Gujarat and the state."

He said both the Indian states can march ahead together.

"India has been able to maintain stability in this world when pandemic and uncertainty are looming everywhere," the Minister said.

"We have been able to achieve this condition as Team India," he said.

Ahead of the roadshow, Harsh Sanghavi, Minister of State for Home and Police Housing, Industry, Sports Youth and Culture had one-to-one interaction with various industry dignitaries, namely Nitin Jain, Managing Director, Vesuvius India Limited;  Jitendra Kumar, President Legal and Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary, Exide Industries Limited; Giriraj Mal, Director, Mallcom India Ltd; PrithishChowdhary, Director, Titagarh; Dinesh Arora, Vice President and Deputy CEO, Purple Microport Scientific India Pvt. Ltd; Rajesh Tiwari, Vice President & Group Head, Production, Manufacturing & Engineering, Berger Paints India; A. Mukhopadhyay, MD, IFB Agro Industries Ltd.; R. Chaudhary, CFO, IFB Industries; Deepak Goyal, CEO ShyamMetalics and Energy Limited; Suvankar Sen, Managing Director, Senco Gold Ltd; and S. Mahapatra, Managing Director India, Atmosphere.

During these interactions, he shared insights into the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit and emphasized how Gujarat has become a role model for development and a preferred investment destination over the last two decades.

He also highlighted Gujarat's cumulative FDI of US$ 55 billion between 2002 and 2022, attributing the state's attractiveness to its policy-driven approach, including initiatives like Gujarat Renewable Policy 2023, Atmanirbhar Gujarat Schemes 2022, Integrated Logistics and Logistics Park Policy 2021, Electrical Vehicle Policy 2021, Tourism Policy, and Textile Policy.

Furthermore, he pointed out Gujarat's significant contributions to India's exports, with over 33% coming from the state in 2022-23. The state's extensive coastline, handling 40% of India's cargo, along with over 14.6 lakh registered MSMEs employing more than 84 lakh people showcases Gujarat’s economic prowess.

He highlighted that two districts in Gujarat, Ahmedabad and Surat are ranked among the top 10 districts in India for the highest industry registration, and the state boasted more than 7,300 startups accredited by DPIIT, supported by a network of 210+ incubators and academic institutes.

Harsh Sanghavi highlighted Gujarat's industrial development, specifically addressing special investment zones such as Gift City, Dholera, and Mandal-Bechraji, as well as Petrochemicals Investment Zones, Dream City, Sanand Manufacturing Hub, Logistics Park, Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, and Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail, emphasizing their world-class infrastructure.

The upcoming 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will be held from January 10 to January 12.