PM MITRA Park, Navsari : South Gujarat Cannot Afford To Lose This Historic Opportunity

SURAT : A Call to Action for Policymakers, Industry Leaders and Citizens

The PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park at Vansi-Borsi, Navsari, is one of the most significant industrial development opportunities ever offered to South Gujarat. Conceived by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, the project is planned over approximately 1,142 acres and is strategically located between Surat and Navsari, close to India’s largest textile manufacturing ecosystem. The objective is to create an integrated textile value chain covering fibre, yarn, fabric, processing, technical textiles, garmenting, logistics and exports under one umbrella.

While other PM MITRA Parks across India are moving ahead with infrastructure execution and investment mobilisation, stakeholders in Gujarat are increasingly concerned about the pace of implementation of the Navsari project. The Union Textile Minister himself has reviewed the project and called for expeditious development, recognising its importance to the future of India’s textile sector.

The textile industry contributes significantly to Gujarat’s economy and Surat is universally recognised as the textile capital of India. However, global competition is intensifying. States such as Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are aggressively pursuing investments in textile manufacturing and apparel exports through their respective PM MITRA Parks. If Gujarat does not accelerate implementation, competing states may capture a substantial share of future investments, exports, employment opportunities and global textile supply-chain integration.

The PM MITRA Park at Navsari is not merely an industrial estate. It has the potential to transform the entire economic geography of South Gujarat. The corridor between Surat and Navsari can emerge as a modern industrial and urban growth belt comparable to Hyderabad–Secunderabad, Delhi–Noida or Mumbai–Navi Mumbai. Improved infrastructure, logistics networks, residential townships, educational institutions, healthcare facilities and commercial developments will naturally follow large-scale industrial investment.

The benefits of timely execution are enormous:

• Creation of lakhs of direct and indirect employment opportunities for youth across South Gujarat.
• Attraction of large domestic and international investments in textiles, apparel, technical textiles and value-added manufacturing.
• Strengthening of MSMEs through integration into global supply chains.
• Increased exports and foreign exchange earnings.
• Development of modern logistics, warehousing and multimodal transport infrastructure.
• Growth of residential and commercial real estate between Surat and Navsari.
• Acceleration of the long-envisioned Surat–Navsari Twin City concept.
• Generation of economic opportunities for local communities and ancillary industries.

Industry estimates suggest that the PM MITRA Park can become a major employment generator and a catalyst for textile-led economic growth in South Gujarat. Government and industry projections have highlighted its potential to create large-scale employment and attract substantial investment over the coming years.

The urgency becomes even greater when viewed in the context of India’s textile ambitions. The Government of India has set ambitious targets for expanding the textile sector by 2030, and integrated textile parks will play a pivotal role in achieving these goals. Gujarat, being one of India’s strongest textile states, should naturally emerge as a leader rather than a follower in this national mission.

Therefore, I earnestly appeal to:

The Government of Gujarat to establish a dedicated fast-track implementation mechanism and ensure time-bound execution of all project milestones.

The Ministry of Textiles, Government of India to closely monitor progress and facilitate rapid infrastructure development.

Industrial Associations of Surat and South Gujarat to actively engage with policymakers and collectively advocate for accelerated implementation.

Investors and Entrepreneurs to begin planning future manufacturing investments around the PM MITRA ecosystem.

Public Representatives and Political Leaders across party lines to recognise that this project is not merely an industrial initiative but a transformational economic mission for future generations.

The window of opportunity is open today, but it will not remain open forever. Industrial investments follow speed, certainty and infrastructure readiness. Every year of delay increases the risk of investment migration to competing states.

South Gujarat has all the ingredients required for success—entrepreneurship, skilled manpower, textile expertise, connectivity and a globally recognised manufacturing ecosystem. What is now required is urgency, coordination and execution.

The PM MITRA Park at Navsari must become a reality well before 2030. The future economic prosperity of South Gujarat may well depend upon it.

The time to act is now.

This article is authored by Dr. Pankaj Gandhi, Director, MANTRA,(body under Ministry of Textiles, Govt of India)