Economy of Surat District in Gujarat is concentrated in the diamond processing, textiles and chemical and petrochemical industries. Surat contributes 18 percent to the total man made fiber exports and 40 percent of man made fabric manufacture in India. Surat has been very flourishing in attracting a sizeable amount of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in different sectors like oil, energy, and petroleum. The district captured a share of 15.24 percent of the total fruit production in Gujarat by becoming the major producer of papaya and second largest producer of banana in the State. Surat is the biggest producer of Okra (Lady Finger) in Gujarat with a share of 19 percent of the overall production. The district contributes 10.39 percent to the total production of spices in Gujarat as it is the largest producer of turmeric and second largest producer of ginger and chilly in the State.
Surat is the second largest producer of lignite in Gujarat. Mineral-based industries in Surat are Roofing Tiles Factory, Stone Ware Pipes, Drainage Pipe Industry, Lignite-based Thermal Power Station, and Glass Factory. There are around six hundred and five medium and large scale industries based in Surat district. The majority of the medium and large scale industries are concentrated in Choryasi taluka (West Surat) with 230 units followed by Mangrol (North Surat) and Mandvi taluka (Central Surat) with 131 and 116 units respectively. There are more than 41,300 small scale industries (SSI) running in Surat district. Some of the most important industries under SSIs in Surat are textiles, diamond processing, jhari (Silver) making, chemicals dying and printing, and. engineering and related activities ( manufacturing machineries and equipments). Maximum numbers of SSI units (24,000 Units) are associated to textile industry in the district followed by repairing and service industry with more than 11,000 units. Most of the small scale industries are to be found at talukas such as Choryasi (Western Surat), Mangrol (Northern Surat), Olpad (Northern Surat), Mandvi (Central Surat) and Palsana (Southern Surat).
The upgraded Surat airport is predicted to recommend direct air connectivity with main destinations in India and abroad. This is likely to improve commercial activities in the city as well as in the district, leading to a surge in the demand in hospitality sector, which is principally driven by corporate tourism. Emergence of a petrochemical complex, gems and jewelry Park and the centrally promoted Surat SEZ are expected to further fuel the industrial and economic augmentation of the city. The expansion plans of Hazira port is envisaged in two phases. The first phase envisions the development of port infrastructure to handle Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports, and the second phase would offer port facilities for handling dry bulk and containerised cargo. The port facility would help in attracting sizeable investments in the times ahead.
