SGCCI’s smart education expo, startup summit begin today

Surat: The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) has organized the three-day ‘Smart Education Expo 2025' and ‘Surat Startup Summit 2025', which begin on Friday at the Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre (SIECC) in Sarsana. Earlier editions of the expo drew vast numbers of visitors.
On the importance of the educational expo, Vijay Mevawala, president of SGCCI, said, "The city is recognised as an MSME hub for the textile and diamond industries. Just as industrial development is vital for the economic progress of the city, educational growth is equally essential for social upliftment. The pursuit of quality education is always a top priority for the betterment of human civilization."
The Smart Education Expo aims to spread awareness about the importance of improving primary education in the digital age. It also intends to help adapt to changes in the education sector, introduce high standards in education, promote partnerships with local institutions, create opportunities for collaboration with Indian and international educational institutions and encourage discussions and research on smart learning trends.
Minister of state for education Praful Pansheriya will inaugurate the event. P Swaroop, commissioner of industries, and Bharat Shah, chairman of Sarvajanik Education Society, will attend as special guests.
In total, about 20 universities from India, 12 from the UK, 19 from the US, five from Dubai and several others from various countries are participating. Universities offering MBBS, hotel management, cooking, jewellery design and interior design programmes will also be present.
The Startup Summit is designed to provide a platform where startups, angel investors and entrepreneurs can come together under one roof. This will help startups find investors and grow stronger. All participating startups will present their ideas at the summit. Since Surat and South Gujarat are known for manufacturing, this summit aims to turn Surat into a financial hub for startups. More than 10,000 entrepreneurs from across the country have been invited.
At the summit, there will be panel discussions and seminars on various topics. Officials from the central and state govts will share information on startup-related schemes. Experts from iHub, the Student Startup Innovation platform, and other startup mentors will guide entrepreneurs. The summit will also encourage students and youth from Surat colleges to come up with creative ideas.