The first of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conferences (VGRC), to be held in Mehsana on October 9-10, will see Japan, South Korea and Vietnam as partner countries while participating countries will include Ukraine, New Zealand, Rwanda and Guyana along with the trade bodies of Russia and Canada. In the decentralised format of the Vibrant summits, four regional summits are being organised, beginning with North Gujarat, where Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) V Narayanan and astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will also be present, as per a government statement. Principal Secretary, Industry and Mines, Mamta Verma, in her media presentation, said that the North Gujarat VGRC would be held at the Ganpat University campus and at the end of Day one, the cultural event would be held at Vadnagar, which is also the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. According to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the event had not only become an important platform for innovation and implementation of new ideas but “through Vibrant Gujarat summit, we have been able to attract global investors and have been successful in strengthening international partnerships.” The CM will inaugurate the conference on Thursday, which will be attended by Union Minister for Railway, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics and Information & Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw. The conference will include exclusive international pavilions for the three partner countries. This will be followed by VGRC for Saurashtra-Kutch to be held in January 2026, followed by South Gujarat in April and Central Gujarat, which will include Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, in June next year, according to Verma. The main biennial Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will then be held in 2027, said sources. An official release stated, “VGRC North Gujarat will feature strong international participation, with partner countries including Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam. The Netherlands is also a partner country for agriculture sector-specific seminars. The event will also see the involvement of prominent partner organizations including World Bank, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Trade representations of the Russian Federation, Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC), and US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).” The release further said, “Before the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Minister and other dignitaries will visit and experience the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition, which will showcase cutting-edge innovations, products, and technologies from diverse sectors. The event will 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.” As part of the Exhibition, a Vendor Development Programme (VDP) will be held with organisations like Dudhsagar Dairy, ONGC, Western Railway and McCain Foods etc., the release stated. Further, a Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) will bring together participation of 34 international buyers from 17 countries, promoting trade and business opportunities. Additionally, more than 500 meetings are planned between buyers and local sellers aiming to promote exports, it added. To provide valuable networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, mentors and institutions, Udyami Mela will also be organised. According to the release, the VGRC will celebrate local entrepreneurship, rural innovation, and the strength of community-driven growth, reaffirming Gujarat’s pivotal role in India’s development journey. It will amplify regional empowerment, global collaboration, and sustainable progress to realise the vision of Viksit Gujarat to Viksit Bharat. It further stated that a food court of traditional regional cuisine and millet-based items will promote North Gujarat’s rich culinary heritage.
