Rajkot: The top-notch jewellers from about 30 countries in the world and 350 foreign delegates are going to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) to be held in Rajkot starting from January 11.
For the first time foreign sellers and buyers will visit 18 different factories of Rajkot and watch the casting design-hand jewelry. This will also give global recognition to the jewellery made in Rajkot.
Rajkot’s industrial journey, which started with the production of lathe machines and nails before independence, has today reached from luxury car parts to fighter planes and defense equipment. This summit is likely to create crores of investment and millions of new employment opportunities in the aerospace, automobile and casting sectors in the coming time.
Since independence, Rajkot’s progress in the production of industrial parts to machines has been ‘vibrant’. At one time, Rajkot used to manufacture and export nail machines. Today, Rajkot is also manufacturing expensive luxury cars to fighter plane parts. In 1941-42, the first ‘London Lathe Machine’ was installed in Rajkot by Hansrajbhai Valambhiya.
Earlier, a small foot-operated lathe was located in Sanganwa Chowk, in which parts of sewing machines were repaired. Then in 1946, the National Wire Product Company was established by Ravibhai Vankani and this company manufactured nail making machines itself and also started exporting them abroad. Even today, various machines of this company are being exported to other countries.
Rajkot Engineering Association President Narendra Patel, said that it is certain that the MSME sector of Saurashtra will benefit greatly from the Saurashtra Regional Vibrant Summit. Rajkot is moving forward in the automobile sector, in making electrical vehicle parts, in motor electric parts, in making all types of pumps. Our bearing industry is taking the world by storm, similarly engine valves, most of the engine parts and forging foundries have become famous all over the world. One company is operating in the whole of India for automotive axles and now another company is going to be set up in Rajkot.
He further said that we have put forward 3 main demands before the government. One of which is to change the policy at the government level and make it better and stronger, within which if the small industry related to MSME is given subsidy every month, it can definitely benefit. The second is the demand that the assistance given for trade development be given every year. And the third is our main demand to start the international airport as soon as possible in the near future.
MSME Department Commissioner M.J. Ladani said that a vibrant regional summit is being organized to boost the business of Saurashtra and Kutch and showcase it at the world level. The main objective of this vibrant summit is that investors from all over the world come here to invest and get information about our products and see them and provide employment to more and more people. More than 50 seminars have been organized. In which seminars are to be held for Rajkot’s engineering, Morbi ceramic and Jamnagar brass parts. Engineering is the major sector in Rajkot, followed by gems and jewellery, which is the sector that provides the most employment. This center is working to provide direct and indirect employment to about 4 lakh people.
Vineet Vasa, COA member of Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, said that for the first time, it is happening that foreign buyers themselves will come to Rajkot and discuss business directly with the manufacturers here. The products and quality, capacity of Rajkot manufacturers are vast. The reverse buyers seller meet is going to be very useful. 30 buyers from 14 countries are going to come to Rajkot and they will visit 18 different factories. Rajkot’s plain gold jewelry, technology base jewelry, antique jewelry and silver jewelry are appreciated, now diamond jewelry has also started to be made in Rajkot slowly.
Indian Investment Casting Manufacturers Association (IICMA) Vice President Chandresh Sankharwa said that due to automation, the export of investment casting has increased from 20% to 60%. About 95% of investment casting is produced in India in Rajkot. This industry plays an important role in the fields of defense, automotive, railways, oil and gas, marine, fire safety and general engineering. The basic facilities provided by the Gujarat government have become a catalyst for the development of industries.
Rajkot district currently has a total of 14 GIDCs. A new medical device park is also going to be built in Nagalpar with an investment of Rs. 446 crores. Apart from this, Khirsara-2 GIDC will be built with an investment of Rs. 131 crores and in Pipardi with an investment of Rs. 95 crores, a new GIDC will be built, which has also been approved. Also, a technology hub will be built near Gondal at a cost of Rs 200 crore and in Gadhka village of Rajkot district, an Amul dairy plant is taking shape at a cost of Rs 500 crore.
Rajkot district has 2,38,069 micro industries, 7771 small scale industries and 870 medium scale industries, totaling 2,46,710 MSMEs. It is estimated that more than 11 lakh people are directly employed in all these industries. In the factories located in various GIDCs of Rajkot, defense equipment ranging from ordinary screws to various auto parts, machine tools, luxury car liners, fighter planes, guns etc. are also being manufactured. Industrialists are expressing confidence that the upcoming ‘Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference’ will skyrocket the industries of Rajkot and Saurashtra.
