TEXTILES, PHARMA, FISHERIES POWERED INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN GUJARAT IN TWO DECADES

A land of vibrant cultural heritage and traditions, Gujarat has undergone industrial evolution in the last two decades riding on the success of key sectors like textile, pharmaceuticals, diamond and fisheries, officials have said.

Gujarat has become a global powerhouse in the textile, apparel and garment sectors by contributing over 60 per cent of India’s denim fabric, spurred by the state’s textile policy launched in 2012. Since then, the size of its textile exports has grown 2.3 times, they said.

The growth in textile manufacturing has positioned Gujarat as a driving force in the country’s economic growth, officials said ahead of the state’s big-ticket Gujarat Vibrant Global Summit, which will be held next week.

“To take advantage of our future, we will have to invest in the local supply chain. This is the way to build a developed India, and this is the way to fulfil the dream of a developed India - to fulfil the dream of a $5 trillion economy,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said at an event last year.

With a coastline of 1,600 km, Gujarat is also a powerhouse in the fisheries sector, contributing 17 per cent to India’s total fish exports. In 2020-21, the state’s fish production touched 8.74 lakh tonnes, officials said.

From fishing operations to processing, the sector also plays a crucial role in generating employment, said industry insiders and government officials.