**AHMEDABAD** — India’s export figures surged to an impressive $863.11 billion during the 2025-26 fiscal year, overcoming major global headwinds such as the West Asia crisis and steep tariffs imposed by the United States. Officials highlighted this economic resilience during the Gujarat Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Outreach Programme held in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Reviewing 12 years of Gujarat’s SEZ progress, Dnyaneshwar B. Patil, IAS, Zonal Development Commissioner for Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ), emphasized the country’s robust performance across commodity sectors like coffee, spices, and marine goods.

“The year 2025-26 was a challenging year, as we know there was crisis in West Asia and the US had also imposed tariffs, but despite all this we have performed wonderfully and that shows the resilience of India,” Patil said at the event.

The programme, attended by prominent policymakers, opened with a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi detailing four key factors critical to India’s global economic expansion. Discussions also focused on the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)—which comprises Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland—and its potential to drive domestic manufacturing, technology transfers, and employment via long-term investment commitments.

Detailing the state’s economic trajectory, Gandhinagar Industries Commissioner Swaroop P, IAS, noted that Gujarat has maintained a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 10 percent over the last twelve years. He added that the state’s GDP has multiplied nearly 30 times over the past 15 years, fueling a continuous rise in per capita income. Swaroop attributed this success to over 20 investor-friendly policies, future-ready infrastructure, top-tier startup rankings, and a strategic coastline featuring 49 ports that streamline trade with West Asia.

Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, outlined the new Viksit Gujarat Industrial Policy 2026, which was officially launched on June 15. Bhadoo highlighted the policy’s “Choose Your Incentive” scheme, designed to offer new entrepreneurs maximum flexibility. He also stressed the government’s commitment to sustainable industrial growth and green infrastructure.

Under the revised policy, investments are now classified into micro, small, medium, large, mega, and ultra-mega categories. The highest tier, ultra-mega, mandates a capital investment of Rs 10,000 crore alongside the creation of 3,000 jobs.

To demonstrate how SEZs successfully integrate India into global supply chains and attract international capital, officials showcased several regional success stories. Semiconductor manufacturing giant Micron was highlighted for its advanced production capabilities, while PHARMEZ earned special recognition as the Best Private SEZ.

*(Reporting by Yashaswi Singh)*