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Brisk in Business, High on Tradition: Gujarat Gujarat is ranked as one of the topmost states for foreign investment and boasts of its excellent pro-business infrastructure and governance. With 80 per cent literacy level and a per capita income higher than the national average, the State has performed spectacularly in trade and commerce. From the days of the Harappan dockyard in Lothal to the modern day busy Kandla port Gujarat has always been brisk in business. Besides, being culturally rich, state also beckons lovers of folk tradition, folk music and traditional cuisine.

Sreemoti Sengupta

An Investment Destination Gujarat, situated in the West coast of India, is a hot-spot destination for both investments and industries. Gujarat has established itself as a leader in various industrial sectors, including textiles, chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and auto. It is home to dairy products, gems and jewellery among others. Post-liberalization period has seen Gujarat’s State Domestic Product (GDP) rising at an average growth rate of 14 per cent per annum in real terms (from 1994–2002).In 2009-10, the state’s per capita income rose from INR 55,140, a year ago to INR. 63,961. ‘This was a rise of 16 per cent’, as highlighted by the state’s socio-economic review (2010-11) report.

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Gujarat is hailed as the hub of the pharmaceutical Industry, the most developed and cost competitive sector with over 3245 manufacturing licenses ‘with 42 per cent of India’s pharmaceutical turnover and 22 per cent of India’s exports,� as per a report. The state is also called India’s ‘Petro Capital’ State with 30 per cent of Petrochemicals business. .

With a coastline that stretches, 992 miles (1,596 km) long, marine SURGXFWLRQ ÂżVKHULHV DQG SRUWV DUH WKH highlights of the state. Gujarat gives the country about 78% of its national requirement of salt. It produces about 98% of soda ash, a chemical compound frequently used in manufacturing, industry, and households. Its capital Gandhinagar is one of the wellknown cotton-textile centers in India.

Known as the Manchester of the East and the denim city, six percent of Gujarat’stotal industrial production comes from the textile industry. It is the largest producer (35 per cent) and exporter (60 per cent) of cotton and is the third largest denim producer in the world. It accounts for 12 per cent textile exportsof India. Jalalpur is a large town of Gujarat, where several small and large textile industrial units have been established Automobile, Diamonds and More *XMDUDW LV RQH RI WKH ¿UVW IHZ states in India to have encouraged private-sector investment. In Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit, year 2011, MoUs worth 21 trillion (US$ 463 billion) were signed.

The automobile cluster is growing.

Several units of low cost and high HI¿FLHQF\ DXWR FDUV DQG FDU FRPSRQHQW units have set up base in Gujarat. For example, CEAT Tyres, General Motors, Tata Motors, Asia Motor Works The State also has the biggest industrial area for ceramic business in Morbi, Himatanagar, which produces around 80 per cent of the country’s gross ceramic production. Gujarat has the distinction of being the second largest producer of gold jewellery and accounts for 85 per cent of the national jewellery production. Surat, a city by the Gulf of Khambhat, is a major hub of the global diamond trade. As per a 2003 study, 92 per cent of the world’s diamonds were cut and polished in Surat. The town of Kalol, in Gandhinagar district, is an important industrial center. Plastic Giant manufacturer Sintex is as well as Bharat Vijay Mill, a huge cloth manufacturer have their bases in Kalol.

Khambhat, (formerly known as Cambay,) a city in the Anand district,is known for oil and natural gas production as is Dhuvaran, located near Khambhat in Anand District with oil and gas based power stations.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation LimLWHG 21*& KDV DQ RI¿FH LQ $QNOHshwar, a city located ten kilometers from Bharuch. The city has over 1000 chemical plants, producing products such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and paints. On the Gulf of Khambhat, 50 kilometres southeast of Bhavnagar, is the Alang Ship Recycling Yard which is considered to be the world’s largest.

Legatum Institute’s Global Prosperity Index 2012 has also recognized Gujarat as the highest scoring amongst all the states of India in matters of social capital.

GUJARAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST FEW STATES IN INDIA TO HAVE ENCOURAGED PRIVATESECTOR INVESTMENT. IN THE VIBRANT GUJARAT GLOBAL INVESTORS’ SUMMIT, YEAR 2011, MOUS WORTH 21 TRILLION (US$ 463 BILLION) WERE SIGNED. THE STATE IS HOME TO PHARMACEUTICAL BUSINESS, AUTOMAKERS, DIAMOND CUTTERS, TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS, CERAMIC BUSINESSMEN AND SEVERAL MORE Tourism and Culture: Within Gujarat there are a wide variety of historic forts, palaces, mosques, temples, and places of historical importance pertaining to India’s struggle for independence. Many of these palaces and forts have been converted into heritage hotels to keep tourists close to the vibrant history of Gujarat. For example, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara is reputed to have been the largest private dwelling built at that time and it is four times the size of Buckingham Palace in London. World heritage sites like Lothal, Dholavira and Champaner are also located within Gujarat or nearby.

Somnath Temple is one

of the very ancient temples of India.

Located in Gujarat,it stands as a famous landmark in Indian history.

It is believed that Somraj, the moon god, built the Somnath Temple or the Somnath Pattan out of gold.

Gujarat has a long and beautiful coastline, as well as inviting beach resorts, shore temples and blue lagoons.. Beaches like Mandvi Beach (Kutch) Somnath Beach (Somnath) and many more give the sun-bathers the highest delight.No tourist visit is complete without a stopover at Sabarmati Ashram, which was built by Mahatma Gandhi in Ahmedabad.

Gujarat has a rich cultural heritage.

Gujarati folk music, known as Sugam Sangeet, is a hereditary profession of the Gadhvi and Charan communities.

The omnipresent instruments in Gujarati folk music include wind instruments, such as Turi, Bungal, and Pava, string instruments, such as, rktaro, and jantar and percussion instruments, such as the manjira and zanz pot drum.

Folk traditions of Gujarat include Bhavai and Rass-garba. Bhavai is a folk theatre which is partly entertainment and partly ritualistic, and is dedicated to Goddess Amba. The Rass-garba is a folk dance which is a part of a celebration of Navratri by the Gujaratis. The folk costume of this dance is Chaniya choli for women and Kedia for men.

Makar Sankranti is a festival where SHRSOH RI *XMDUDW À\ NLWHV 1DYUDWUL Uttarayana, Diwali, Holi,and Tazia are also celebrated with much fervor.

So whether you are a business visitor or a causal tourist, be assured, either way, Gujarat will mesmerize you! ‰ January 2014 ƒ India-China Chronicle |53|