Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday inaugurated the second edition of the Gujarat Advanced Technology and Economy (GATE) Expo, the annual three-day trade event by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in Gandhinagar.
Spread over 18,000 sq. metres at Helipad Exhibition Centre in Gandhinagar, the expo features stalls from over 16 sectors including automobiles, renewable energy, IT, pharmaceuticals, textiles, AI and cybersecurity. Highlighting Gujarat's economic contribution, the CM said the state accounts for 8.3 per cent of India's GDP, 18 per cent of industrial output and 31 per cent of exports. He said the expo, themed "Gujarat Vision - Global Ambition," would give MSMEs and young entrepreneurs a platform to go from local to global.
He added that Gujarat has gained global recognition through initiatives like Vibrant Gujarat and continues to lead in sectors such as green growth, renewable energy, EV manufacturing and semiconductors.
Sandeep Engineer, president, GCCI, said GATE 2026 has more than doubled in scale compared to previous editions, attracting over 500 exhibitors and recording more than 30,000 unique registrations. He said Deloitte India is developing a comprehensive long-term roadmap for GCCI.
Energy security
Jinal Mehta, Vice Chairman and MD, Torrent Power, spoke on energy security and sustainability, stressing the power sector's role in supporting industrial expansion and economic resilience. He said that in the current geopolitical scenario, energy security has become synonymous with national security, making self-reliance in power generation a priority.
A panel discussion on "CEO Power Panel: Building Global-Scale Enterprises" brought together Saumya Engineer, CEO, Astral Adhesives and Paints; Akshat Doshi, Director, Vishaka Group; Priyavrat Mafatlal, Vice Chairman, Arvind Mafatlal Group; and Shreyans Dholakia, Director and Brand Custodian, Shree Ramkrishna Exports. The session, moderated by KR Sekar, Partner, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP, covered scaling businesses beyond borders, building globally competitive organisations and navigating complex economic environments.
Investment sessions
A session titled "The Pitch Marathon" and another on "Current Trends in Early-Stage Startup Investments in India" covered evolving funding patterns, emerging sectoral opportunities and key considerations for startups seeking capital. Others on the dais included Shekhar Patel, President, CREDAI National; Rajesh Gandhi, Sr. Vice President, GCCI; Apurva Shah, Vice President, GCCI; and Ajay Patel, Immediate Past President, GCCI.