Amit Shah chairs 28th meeting of Western Zonal Council in Panaji

Early Times Report NEW DELHI, Sept 7: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today chaired the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Panaji, Goa. The meeting was attended by Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Praful K. Patel. Senior officials of the Government of India and the State Governments/Union Territory also participated in the meeting of the Council. Addressing the gathering, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said that Goa contributes much more to economic growth than its geographical size would suggest due to advanced tourism, high per capita income and mines. He said that recently, the country recorded a growth rate of 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of the financial year 2026-2027. He said that the Indian economy recording such a growth rate amid global turbulence is a matter of pride for all of us. Shah said that the Western Region is extremely important from several perspectives and that this region is the country's largest economic, industrial and financial centre. Amit Shah said that since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has continuously worked, along with numerous administrative reforms, to transform the country's economy into a rapidly moving economy. He said that Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and the three States of the Western Zonal Council have also made a significant contribution towards achieving the growth rate of 7.8 per cent. He said that the Western Region is known as the WEST Engine of the country's economic growth. W stands for wealth and finance, which are generated in this region; E stands for exports and ports; S stands for start-ups and semiconductors; and T stands for tourism and the blue economy, in which the Western Region has the largest share in the country. More than 1 crore tourists visit Goa, of whom 5 lakh are foreign tourists. Tourism contributes 16% of Goa's GSDP. Maharashtra ranks first in the country with 33,872 start-ups. Dholera has now become a hub in the semiconductor sector. Gujarat's Mundra Port handles the highest volume of cargo and Deendayal Port is the largest port in terms of cargo volume. Mumbai, the country's financial capital, is also emerging as a major hub for global capital.