The State Government will also hold Gujarat Sthapana Divas celebrations on the evening of 1 May in Surat.

The celebrations will include a parade featuring tableaus from various departments, commencing from Y-Junction, followed by a cultural programme organised by the General Administration Department at Dumas Seafront.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, VGRC South Gujarat will begin with the inauguration of the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE), followed by the inaugural session of the Regional Conference. Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel will deliver the address during the inaugural session.

The session will open with remarks and a presentation by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, alongside addresses from Ambassadors or High Commissioners of Partner Countries and prominent industrialists.

Japan, Rwanda, Ukraine and Singapore are confirmed as Partner Countries for VGRC South Gujarat. Partner Organisations include the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Trade Representation of the Russian Federation, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in India and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

Throughout the two-day conference, seminars, panel discussions and roundtables will cover a range of sectors and emerging opportunities. On 1 May, seminars will focus on agriculture and horticulture, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, startups, nuclear power, fertiliser, natural gas, and global supply chain developments. Country seminars by Japan and Ukraine, as well as discussions on women’s empowerment, are also scheduled.

Day two will feature the Regional MSME Conclave and sectoral seminars on gems and jewellery, circular economy, skill development, aerospace and defence, fisheries and cooperatives, green energy and green hydrogen, eco-tourism, and city economic region development.

Concurrently, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition will be held at the same venue from 1 to 5 May. The exhibition will include events such as the Vendor Development Programme, International Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet (RBSM) and the Udyami Mela. It will provide a platform for industries, MSMEs, startups and government departments from the South Gujarat districts of Bharuch, Dang, Navsari, Surat, Tapi and Valsad.

Through strategic partnerships and investor engagement, the State Government aims to accelerate industrial development and ensure inclusive, sustainable growth across South Gujarat. The Regional Conferences are intended to boost regional industrial growth, attract sector-specific investments and strengthen global engagements, in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated VGRC for Kutch and Saurashtra, which was held on 11 and 12 January 2026 at Marwadi University, Rajkot. Partner Countries for that conference included Japan, South Korea, Rwanda and Ukraine. Focus sectors comprised ceramics, engineering, ports and logistics, fisheries, petrochemicals, agro and food processing, minerals and green energy ecosystems.

The inaugural VGRC edition was held on 9 and 10 October 2025 at Ganpat University, Mehsana, inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel. It highlighted key sectors such as agro and food processing, auto and auto components, green energy ecosystems and engineering.

The VGRCs serve as instruments for co-creating Gujarat’s growth story by empowering regional economies, promoting innovation and facilitating strategic investments across the State.