Gandhinagar, April 30 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, in a public message on the eve of the 66th Gujarat Foundation Day, said on Thursday that the state’s development journey has placed it among the leading economic regions in the country and attracted global attention to its growth model.

Referring to public support received in recent local self-government elections, the Chief Minister added: “In the recent local self-government elections, the people have given us overwhelming support and have kept their trust intact; we humbly accept this love with gratitude.”

Chief Minister Patel said that Gujarat, formed on May 1, 1960, had transformed significantly over the decades.

He noted that the state’s progress from 1960 to 2000 and the subsequent development phase since 2001 reflected a clear shift in economic and social indicators.

“Gujarat has reached such heights of development today that the entire world is attracted towards it,” he said, crediting the state’s growth trajectory to leadership vision and governance reforms.

He highlighted the role of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, launched in 2003 by the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in attracting investment and strengthening industrial growth.

He said that Gujarat had emerged as “the Global Gateway to the Future” and currently recorded the lowest unemployment rate in the country, according to state assessments.

On infrastructure, Chief Minister Patel said: “Power generation capacity had grown from 8,750 megawatts to nearly 53,000 megawatts. The development of integrated electricity, gas and water grid systems had strengthened basic service delivery across the state.”

The Chief Minister added that urban development had been prioritised with 2025 declared as the ‘Year of Urban Development’ and a 40 per cent increase in the urban development budget this year.

“The Surat Economic Region Development Plan had been prepared with support from NITI Aayog. Six regional economic master plans, targeting Saurashtra, North Gujarat and Central Gujarat, are under preparation for different parts of Gujarat,” he asserted.

He added that industrial diversification had accelerated, with Gujarat expanding into high-technology sectors.

Two semiconductor manufacturing units are operational in the state, while two more are under development, with Sanand and Dholera emerging as semiconductor hubs.

An Artificial Intelligence Centre of Excellence has also been set up at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, also known as GIFT City.

“Renewable energy had become a major focus area, with Gujarat accounting for around 15 per cent of India’s total renewable energy capacity. More than three lakh households have been covered under the solar rooftop scheme,” the Chief Minister noted.

He also referred to environmental initiatives, including Mission LiFE, the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign for water conservation, and tree plantation efforts under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, aimed at promoting ecological balance.

Looking ahead, Chief Minister Patel said Gujarat has prepared a long-term roadmap aligned with India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.

“Gujarat also aims to mark its own milestone in 2035, completing 75 years of formation. The focus remains on inclusive growth supported by welfare schemes such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, PM Awas Yojana, PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and Ayushman Bharat,” he added.

–IANS

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