Modi plans yet another 'Vibrant Gujarat' conference

Friday, 12 November 2004, 20:30 IST
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GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi plans to hold a mega investors' summit in January to attract more investment to the state. The two-day meet, called "Vibrant Gujarat", will be held here Jan 12 and 13, 2005. "The summit will include international conventions to bring together global and local companies," an industry department official told IANS. "We plan to provide a platform for business deliberations and one-to-one interactions. The summit will facilitate technology transfer, joint ventures and provide a bridge to help ink trade agreements," he said. One of the highlights of the event will be a business exhibition showcasing products made in the state. The event's focus will be on chemicals and pharmaceuticals, agro and marine industries, engineering and automobiles, emerging technology, tourism and coastal development. Modi organised an international investors' conference, under the banner of "Vibant Gujarat," in September-October 2003 to coincide with the popular festival of "Navaratri". The conference had generated huge investment promises. But Industry Minister Anil Patel admitted this year that the actual inflow of investment was a pittance. Officials, however, argue that apart from investments generated in such a conference, the aim is to promote Gujarat as an ideal investment destination. But they feel that given the findings of a recent survey that showed that Gujarat, along with Tamil Nadu, is falling off the investors' map, the state needs to improve its brand as the country's premier business centre.
Source: IANS
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