Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah chaired the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council in Panaji, Goa, attended by Chief Ministers of Goa (Dr. Pramod Sawant), Gujarat (Bhupendra Patel), Maharashtra (Devendra Fadnavis), and the Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Praful K. Patel). The meeting focused on the Western Region's role as India's largest economic, industrial, and financial center, designated as the WEST Engine—representing Wealth and finance, Exports and ports, Start-ups and semiconductors, and Tourism and blue economy.
Shah highlighted India's 7.8% growth rate in Q1 FY2026-27 amid global turbulence and credited the Western Region's contributions. Specific regional achievements include Goa hosting over 1 crore tourists (including 5 lakh foreigners) with tourism contributing 16% to its GSDP; Maharashtra leading with 33,872 start-ups; Gujarat's Mundra Port handling the highest cargo volume and Deendayal Port being the largest by cargo size; and Dholera emerging as a semiconductor hub.
The meeting noted a significant increase in Zonal Council functionality, with 71 meetings held since 2014 compared to 25 during 2004-2014—a nearly three-fold increase. Of 1,893 issues discussed, 1,445 have been resolved, demonstrating enhanced cooperative federalism. The council has shifted from dispute resolution to monitoring public welfare schemes, with no remaining disputes among Western Region states.
Key directives issued include connecting all Urban Cooperative Banks to CFCFRMS, integrating cooperative banks with MuleHunter AI and I4C for cybercrime prevention, and making coastal security and narcotics prevention part of state agendas. The Ministry of Home Affairs will prioritize coastal security over the next two years. States were urged to implement New Nyaya Sanhitas and adopt Banas Dairy's Gobardhan model.
Discussion topics included Fast Track Special Courts for rape cases, Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), food safety standards, Ayushman Bharat scheme implementation, brick-and-mortar banking facility provision, railway projects, environmental clearances, urban master planning, electricity supply, PACS strengthening, Poshan Abhiyaan for malnutrition, reducing school dropouts, and cybercrime infrastructure.