Gandhinagar, (Gujarat) [India], 18 October 2024: On the occasion of Entrepreneurship Day, as part of the statewide Vikas Saptah celebration, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel unveiled the Gujarat Textile Policy 2024. During the event, held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, the Chief Minister laid e-foundation stones for development projects worth ₹418 crore and inaugurated projects valued at ₹146 crore. These projects encompass water supply, roads, and facilities within various industrial estates across the state. In the presence of key dignitaries such as Industries Minister Shri Balvantsinh Rajput, Minister of State for Industries Shri Harsh Sanghvi, and Chief Secretary Shri Raj Kumar, the CM distributed ₹1,100 crore in assistance to 5,500 industrial units under the Incentive to Industries program. Additionally, the CM issued a Letter of Intent for quarry leases valued at ₹699 crore.
Revitalizing Gujarat’s Textile Sector
During his speech, Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel highlighted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, during his tenure as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, revolutionized the cotton and textile industry in 2012 with the introduction of the Five-F Formula—Farm to Fiber, Fiber to Fabric, Fabric to Fashion, and Fashion to Foreign. This approach established a strong ecosystem for the textile industry, leading to the creation of 35 lakh spindles, an investment of ₹35,000 crore, and over 2.5 lakh job opportunities.
The CM emphasized that Gujarat’s development journey took a significant turn on October 7, 2001, when Shri Narendra Modi became Chief Minister. To commemorate 23 years of progress, the state is celebrating Vikas Saptah from October 7 to 15. The CM praised Shri Modi’s legacy of establishing Gujarat as a policy-driven state, characterized by sector-specific policies, ease of doing business, and a proactive, industry-friendly approach.
Key Policies for the Textile Industry
Building on the success of the 2012 textile policy, a special five-year policy for the garment and apparel industry was introduced in 2017, followed by another policy in 2019. These initiatives boosted Gujarat’s textile industry, creating nearly five lakh direct and indirect jobs. With the introduction of the new Textile Policy-2024, the CM emphasized the growing importance of man-made fibres, which contribute to 40% of the state’s fabric production, and technical textiles, of which Gujarat accounts for 25% of the country’s total output.
The CM stressed the pivotal role the textile sector plays in Gujarat’s and India’s economic growth. He further announced that the new Textile Policy-2024 focuses on empowering women’s self-help groups in rural and urban areas, with a special emphasis on generating employment. He reiterated that the policy aligns with Prime Minister Modi’s GYAN [Garib, Yuva, Annadata, Naari] approach, with a vision of making India the third-largest economy by 2047 and establishing Gujarat as a major contributor to this goal.
A Boost for the Future
The Textile Policy-2024 is expected to attract ₹30,000 crore in capital investment to Gujarat, benefiting cotton-producing farmers while creating employment for women and youth. The CM also noted that the ecosystem fostered by the PM MITRA Park and the comprehensive development of the textile value chain will pave the way for Viksit Gujarat.
The CM concluded by announcing the annual celebration of Vikas Saptah from October 7 to 15 over the next 23 years, leading up to 2047, to commemorate the development milestones achieved since 2001.
Leaders Praise Gujarat’s Progress
Industries Minister Shri Balvantsinh Rajput applauded the decision to celebrate Vikas Saptah, stating that under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership, both as Gujarat’s Chief Minister and India’s Prime Minister, significant development initiatives have been implemented without pause. Shri Rajput highlighted how the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, introduced by Shri Modi, has made Gujarat a model for development, inspiring other states and contributing to reducing the state’s unemployment rate from 4.2% to 2.7%.
Minister of State for Industries Shri Harsh Sanghvi emphasized Gujarat’s outstanding economic growth, from ₹1.42 lakh crore in 2002-03 to ₹22.61 lakh crore in 2022-23, surpassing the national average. Gujarat now contributes over 18% of India’s total production and 33% of its exports, positioning itself as a manufacturing hub and the nation’s growth engine.
The event saw the presence of Shri M.K. Das, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM; Smt. Mamta Verma, Principal Secretary of the Industries and Mines Department; Shri Sandeep Sangle, Commissioner of Industries; senior officials; and numerous industrialists.
Source: Information Department, Gujarat
