Gujarat is emerging crucial to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Dream. The state’s export figures have doubled in a year, leaving behind previous leaders Maharashtra and Karnataka. Among indigenous items that bring in the highest FOREX earnings for Gujarat are cotton yarn, ceramics, petroleum, diamond, electrical engineering products, chemicals and oil seeds.
Amassing a total of Rs 8.37 lakh crores in the 2021-22 (till Feb) fiscal, Gujarat has almost doubled its count of Rs 4.48 lakh crore for the previous corresponding period. Business captains predict the Rs 10 lakh crore mark being crossed after the March tally, data of which is to be shared soon.
According to Chintan Thaker, chairman, ASSOCHAM, Gujarat: “After Covid, we have emerged better vis-à-vis manufacturing, electricity supply and manpower problems. States like Maharashtra were hit severely by the pandemic. The price of raw material has shot up in the global market which has been beneficial for Gujarat’s homegrown copper and brass components industries.”
Industry insiders say that the global market opened after after the pandemic. Gujarat has always been a manufacturing hub and with all ports opening up, the state was able to manufacture to optimal levels and also ship out to meet demands elsewhere.
Elaborating on the renewed life to Gujarat’s industry, Partha Ganatra, V-P, Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated: We have witnessed a 40 percent growth in exports in 2021-22. We have credibility in the market and buyers prefer Gujarat products over China and Vietnam. The number of “certificate of origin” applications received and issued from RCCI have been on a phenomenal rise.”
Earlier, Maharashtra was the highest exporter among states. However, in the 2021-22 (till Feb) period, Maharashtra’s incoming revenue from experts stood at Rs 4.90 lakh crores. Roughly half of Gujarat’s figures in the same period.
There is also a growing demand from manufacturers for SOPs, government reforms for ease of doing business and tax concessions, added voices from Kutch Industries Association.
