Gujarat’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have emerged as a major engine of export-led growth, with exports surging 67% over the past 12 years to cross ₹3 lakh crore in FY26, while employment more than tripled to over 2.22 lakh jobs, according to officials at a Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ) outreach programme in Ahmedabad.
Addressing industry stakeholders, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Ajay Bhadoo said India’s exports have nearly doubled over the past decade, rising from around $441 billion to $863 billion. He highlighted Gujarat’s growing contribution to the country’s export performance, noting that the state now accounts for nearly $110 billion in exports.
Bhadoo credited the growth to strong performances in sectors such as engineering goods, petroleum products, electronics, pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and chemicals. He also pointed to government initiatives including Trade Connect, the Trade Intelligence and Analytics (TIA) Portal, and the Merchandise Imports Monitoring Portal (MIMP), alongside trade agreements with countries such as the UAE, Australia, the UK, Mauritius and New Zealand, for expanding market access for Indian exporters.
Officials noted that Gujarat hosts 24 SEZs, including KASEZ and 23 private and state-government-backed zones covering industries such as refining, textiles, information technology, pharmaceuticals, engineering and financial services.
According to Zonal Development Commissioner Dnyaneshwar B Patil, exports from Gujarat’s SEZs increased from ₹1.79 lakh crore in FY15 to ₹3.01 lakh crore in FY26, giving the state a 21% share of India’s total SEZ exports. Investments in the state’s SEZs rose from ₹1.23 lakh crore to ₹2.29 lakh crore during the same period, while employment expanded from 63,475 to more than 2.22 lakh jobs.
Patil outlined an ambitious growth roadmap for Gujarat’s SEZs, targeting 20% annual export growth and 10% annual employment growth, while focusing on maintaining positive Net Foreign Exchange (NFE) status across SEZ units to enhance long-term competitiveness.
The broader industrial landscape in Gujarat has also witnessed robust expansion. Data from the Annual Survey of Industries shows the number of factories in the state increased from 22,876 in FY14 to 33,311 in FY24. Industrial output more than doubled from ₹12.31 lakh crore to ₹26.39 lakh crore, while invested capital rose from ₹5.48 lakh crore to ₹12.66 lakh crore. Industrial employment also grew sharply, with the number of persons engaged increasing from 13.7 lakh to 25.6 lakh.
Merchandise exports from Gujarat nearly doubled from ₹4.44 lakh crore in FY14 to ₹9.77 lakh crore in FY26, while cumulative foreign direct investment inflows into the state reached $74.6 billion between April 2000 and March 2026, reinforcing Gujarat’s position as one of India’s leading industrial and export hubs.
