Amit Shah calls western states 'WEST' engine of India's economy

New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday said 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 startups and semiconductors and T stands for tourism and the blue economy, in which the western region has the largest share in the country," he said during the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council at Panaji, Goa.

Also read: India's coastal security to see serious action in next two years: Amit Shah says MHA will move forward 'very seriously'


The meeting was attended by the CMs of Goa, Gujarat and Maharashtra and the administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. Shah said 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% in the first quarter of the financial year 2026-2027, according to a home ministry statement. Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and the three states of the Western Zonal Council have made a significant contribution towards achieving this growth rate, he said.

"More than 1 crore tourists visit Goa, of whom 5 lakh are foreign tourists. Tourism contributes to 16% of Goa's GSDP. Maharashtra ranks first with 33,872 startups.

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," he explained.