Gujarat was the first Indian state to have a dedicated maritime authority in 1981 and a port policy formulated

in 1995. Besides Gujarat, only two other states Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have maritime boards. The central government has directed all the maritime states to set up a maritime board on an urgent basis. More than the maritime authority, it was a port policy that opened the doors for a port-led development in Gujarat. The port policy calls for public-private partnership (PPP) in port development and management. Unlike the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) that determines tariffs for the major ports in the country, Gujarat's port policy safeguards the interests of port operators and the state exchequer as well. According to government officials, the policy enabled private partnership and tariff freedom that led to port-led development in the state. "We have adopted BOOT (Build Own Operate Transfer) policy for development of greenfield ports with tariff and operational freedom to the private port operator. The legal regulation remains the subject of GMB for such ports. The port facilities come back to GMB after the completion of the BOOT period," said Mathur. Tariff freedom has attracted large private investors to Gujarats ports. "The tariff mechanism, which is there for the major ports in India, does not seem to be conducive, nor is it giving any incentive to the private port operator. Rather, a public-private partnership model with tariff freedom seems more attractive. In Gujarat, we were the first to develop a port under PPP model," said Prakash Tulsiani, managing director, APM Terminals Pipavav. Gujarat currently has four greenfield private sector ports operational with a combined installed capacity of all four at around 100 MTPA. These private sector ports include Mundra Port, Hazira Port, Pipavav Port and Dahej Port. The commodities handled at these ports include coal, fertilisers, agri-commodities, salt, LNG and LPG besides others. The industry insiders feel that the Gujarat's business-friendly policy and governance attracts industries to make investments in the port sector. "Almost all of our investments of Rs 6,000 crores currently in ports are in the state of Gujarat located at Vadinar and Hazira. Further, we would be investing another Rs 2,000 crores in Gujarat to add 40 MTPA of capacity as a part of our total planned investment of Rs 9,300 crore to take our capacity to 158 MTPA by 2013," said Rajiv Agarwal, MD, Essar Ports Limited. Essar group currently operates a combined capacity of 88 MTPA at the two locations, while the upcoming is at Salaya on the west coast near Jamnagar. The port development in the state has also provided a boost to export-oriented industries coming up in Gujarat. India's largest car maker by sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited is reported to be planning a plant in Gujarat with an estimated investment of Rs 4000 crore. The industry insiders believe that a plant in Gujarat would help Maruti to export its car easily in the overseas markets. The special economic zones (SEZs) coming up in Gujarat are also promising assured business for the port operators in Gujarat. "From the operations point of view, Gujarat is very well connected to the hinterland and gives access to land-locked northern India. Also, the longest coast-line and development of SEZs, investment regions and industrial clusters makes the state a key location for maritime trade," says Tulsiani. The existing installed capacity of the 41 non-major ports in Gujarat stands at 273 MTPA, which is expected to rise to 508 MTPA by 2014-15. So far, the cargo handling at these non-major ports was recorded at 231 MTPA for 2010-11 up 12.34 per cent over previous year. Cargo handling at the non-major ports in Gujarat has grown by a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.2 per cent in the last decade easily outstripping the national CAGR of 9.3 per cent (from 368 MTPA in 2000-01 to 821 MTPA in 2010-11.) India's 7500 kms long coastline covers states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal with 12 major ports and close to 200 non-major ports, all of which could be ardent emulators of Gujarats successful ports gameplan.

http://www.mapsofindia.com/gujarat/economy/
Agriculture in Gujarat forms a major part of the state economy. Agriculture, which is the main stay of the people in Gujarat, provides Gujarat with the required food grains, as well as it also contributes a major share for the adjoining areas. Owing to a rugged topography and an unfavorable environment, the total output ofagriculture in Gujarat is not very high; yet it is enough as far as the requirement of the state and its abutting lot is concerned.Some of the factors that hinder the prospects of agriculture in Gujarat are:

poor soil inadequate rainfall frequent droughts or flood fewer rivers undeveloped irrigation facilities dry-arid weather, etc.

But despite these hindrances, one of the vital part ofGujarat agriculture is that the cropping pattern in Gujarat is predominant with cash crops. The production of cotton in Gujarat is highest as compared to any part of the country. Some of the major cash crops grow in this region are:

cotton groundnut tobacco cumin sugarcane jawar bajra rice wheat pulses tur gram mangoes jamun guava, etc.

Agriculture in Gujarat also contributes a fair amount of forest products and different kinds of medicinal or herbal plants. Among the important forest products and herbs, we can name a few:

honey wax bamboo teak khair sadad hadariyo manual bamboo, etc.

Talking about the areas that are instrumental in enhancing the economic status of the state by its contributions in agricultural production, we can name a few. In fact, Valsad, a small province in Gujarat, is India's first integrated horticulture district. Some of the regions that contribute a major share in agriculture of Gujarat are:

Kaira Baroda Broach Surat, etc.

Thus, as it is evident, Gujarat, in spite of an unfavorable climate is blessed with a wide range of agricultural yields. These crops not only contribute towards the needs of Gujarat, but it also helps the neighboring states to compensate its agricultural deficiency.

Transportation
Gujarat has excellent transportation infrastructure. Public transport is provided by both government and private operators. Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) is the government organization providing bus services both within Gujarat and also to the neighboring states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation also provides public transportation services to the Union Territories of Daman and Diu. Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) provides a bouquet of transportation options:

Mofussil Services: GSRTC provides transportation services which interconnects major and minor towns and villages within Gujarat state. Intercity Bus Services: Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation maintains transportation services between all major cities of Gujarat- Ahmedabad, Vadodara (Baroda) and Rajkot.

Interstate Bus Services: This service connects the cities of Gujarat to various destinations in the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. City Services: Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation provides intercity transportation services within Gujarat state. Parcel Services: This service is employed for transportation of goods. Special services: Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation also provides special transportation services during special social occasions like festivals. GSRTC also provides bespoke transportation solutions to pilgrims and students of schools and colleges.

Industry

The Gujarat Industry has been completely revolutionized with respect to its visual aspect and also infrastructure in the last 42 years since the dawn of the state itself in 1960. Post its revival, there has been no looking back for theGujarat Industry. The entire credit for lifting up Gujarat's industrial status and also for providing encouragement and assistance to the companies from Indian soil as well as foreign turfs who want to become an integral wing of theGujarat Industry, goes to the State Government. The Gujarat Industry has not only flourished in various fields but has also furnished employment to a major bulk of the masses. The appendages of the industry of Gujarat that deals in cotton and non-metallic mineral products are the prominent juggernauts who have created maximum employment opportunities. Another train of industries are waiting in the pipeline to be unleashed so that they can take over the Gujarat market by storm. These industries include petrochemicals, chemicals, engineering, fertilizers, electronic goods and many more. The most recent and improved fertilizers are by no means detrimental to the house pets and neither very costly. They primarily aim towards the removal of disgusting bugs and providing you with luscious green gardens. Another achievement that has been bagged byindustry at Gujarat is the coveted title of being the bearer of the largest petrochemical plant in the entire country and the chief manufacturer of soda-ash and caustic soda. Apart from these other contenders in the list ofindustry in Gujarat are :-

Manufacturers of Wool, Silk, Synthetic Fibers, Textiles, Basic Metals, Alloys, Rubber, Plastic, Petroleum, Transport Equipments and Parts, Coal Products, Food Products, etc. Oil and Natural Gas producers are mainly connected to the Cambey, Kalol, Koyali and Ankleshwar area. There is an entire caboodle of mega industrial estates like at Bhavnagar, Jafnabad, Porbander, Jamnagar, etc, that have been put up by Gujarat Industrial development Corporation(GIDC)

Banking and financial institutions Gujarat is one of the most prosperous states in the Indian Republic. The banking and financial institutions of Gujarat are also well developed. The banking and financial institutions of Gujarat provides financial services to its customers. The banking and financial institutions is under the regulatory authority of the government. Banking and financial institutions in Gujarat include banks, stock brokers, asset management firms and similar function businesses. The primary function of the banking and financial institutions in Gujarat is to act as intermediaries between the capital and debt markets. The banking and financial institutionstransfer funds from the retail or institutional investor to those companies which require funding. The presence of banking and financial institutions in Gujarat ensure the proper flow of money through the regional economy. The banking and financial institutions in Gujarat helps you to manage your money better. If you are in a shopping mood-and ready to paint the town red, then there is no need to carry wads of cash with you! Simply carry your credit or debit card issued by the bank. The carriage of these financial instruments ensure that your money remains safe and cannot be willfully misused! A partial list of banks in Gujarat are:

ABN AMRO Bank ANZ Grindlays Bank Bank Of America Bank Of Tokyo Citi Bank Deutsche Bank Standard Chartered Bank Allahabad Bank Canara Bank Indian Overseas Bank Punjab National Bank Reserve Bank of India State Bank of India HDFC Bank ICICI Bank IDBI Bank Lord Krishna Bank Syndicate Bank UCO Bank

Mining industry The mining industry of the state of Tamil Nadu is equipped with modern amenities and technologically oriented devices that helps in extracting minerals and raw materials from the core of the earth. Tamil Nadu is rich in mineral resources. The region is blessed with many mineral resources which contributes heavily to the industrialization of the state. The state has rich deposits of Lignite, heavyMineral Sands such as Zircon and Monazite,Magnesite, Graphite, Quatrz and Feldspar, Limestone, Granite, Iron Ore, Silica Sand, Bauxite, and Clay. Tamil Nadu is enriched with the best quality of Magnesite deposits which are found in abundance in the districts of Salem, Namakkal, Coimbatore and Erode. The state has one of the largest deposits of Lignite that are available in plenty in the various parts of Tamil Nadu. It is gifted with rich deposits of Limestone and ranks 7th in the production of the mineral. Tamil Nadu has ample reserves of Graphite of various attractive colors in the districts of Kancheepuram, Salem, Erode, Dharmapuri and many other places. The districts of Salem, Trivannamalai and Namakkal also have rich repository of Iron Ore which is used in many industries. Bauxite , Silica and Clay are found scattered in different regions of the state. Tamil Nadu also has some amount of Oil and Natural Gas in the sea of Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram, where the "Oil and Natural Gas Corporation" has set up its plants to explore the oil rich areas of the state. With such a rich deposit of Minerals, the state has become one of the most favorable destinations for the heavy Engineering, Iron and Steel, Electrical, Glass and Cement industries which contributes heavily to the state treasury and strengthens the financial position of Tamil Nadu Industry Tourism in Gujarat has a wide scope for the tourists, as it includes wide range of forts and museums, wild life sanctuaries, temples and mosques, and other places of interest. Gujarat tourism is, indeed, a treat to the sightseers! The major part of Gujarat tourism forms the many forts and palaces that stand as live witnesses to the golden era in the history of India. Some such forts and palaces that deserves special mention in Gujarat tourism are:

Pawagadh Fort Dabhoi Fort Nazar Bagh Palace Kusum Vilas Palace Uparkot Fort, etc.

In Gujarat, we also come across a wide range of museum, withholding the secrets of ancient India - Some of such museums are:

Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery Calico Museum of Textiles Gandhi Smarak Sanghrahalaya Gandhi Museum Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum

Utensils Museum, etc.

Gujarat is the seat of a lot of religious sites belonging to both Hinduism and Islam. Some such religious sites are:

Dwarkanath Temple

Palitana Temples
Somnath Temple

Sidi Saiyad's Mosque

Takhteshwar Temple

Kalika Temple Jama Masjid

Akshardham Temple

Raj Babri Mosque Rani Rupmati Mosque Narayan Temple, etc.

Gujarat also houses 4 National Parks and 21 Wildlife Sanctuaries that deserves special mention in Gujarat tourism. Some of the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, viz.:

Gir Forest Natural Park Blackbuck National Park Marine National Park Vansda National Park Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary Wild Ass Sanctuary Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary

Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary

Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, etc.

In fact, these sanctuaries play a major role in Gujarat tourism. Therefore, we saw that Gujarat provides an enormous scope for touring. Gujarat tourism is, certainly, a bonus for the enthusiasts in archeology and wildlife.