- Vibrant Gujarat is not just an event of branding, but more than that it is also an event of bonding: Modi
- We were not just thinking about reconstruction but were also planning for the state’s future and we made the Vibrant Gujarat Summit the chief medium for this: PM
- Main attraction of Gujarat was good governance, fair and policy-driven governance, an equal system of growth and transparency: Modi
- Core elements of the success of Vibrant Gujarat are idea, imagination and implementation: PM
- 2014’s goal of making India the growth engine of the world is finding resonance among international agencies and experts
- The next edition of the biennial summit which sees the participation of business houses, businessmen and decision-makers from India and abroad will be held from January 10 to 12, 2024 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, SEPT 27
Idea, imagination and implementation are the core elements the success of Vibrant Guarat Global Summit. It is not just an event of branding, but more than that it is also an event of bonding. We were not just thinking about reconstruction but were also planning for the state’s future and we made the Vibrant Gujarat Summit the chief medium for this. Main attraction of Gujarat was good governance, fair and policy-driven governance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Wednesday.
Idea, Imagination and Implementation are at the core of Vibrant Gujarat Summits. pic.twitter.com/yqDotdHhF9
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2023
https://x.com/PMOIndia/status/1706915295406002516?s=20
He was speaking at a programme organised at Science City, Ahmedabad, to celebrate 20 years of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
20 years of @VibrantGujarat Summit is a significant milestone. The Summit has been instrumental in attracting investments and advancing the state's growth. https://t.co/rUB0MN0vrb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 27, 2023
The next edition of the biennial summit which sees the participation of business houses, businessmen and decision-makers from India and abroad will be held from January 10 to 12, 2024 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar. The event is organised by the Gujarat Government.
Today India is the fastest growing economy in the world.
We are at a turning point where India is going to become a global economic powerhouse. pic.twitter.com/ChfkZbNWEH
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 27, 2023
“When the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit completes 40 years, India will be near centenary celebrations,” Modi remarked, adding that the next 20 years are more crucial. “This is the time that India will have to prepare a roadmap that will enable India to become a developed nation by 2047.”
Live: માનનીય વડાપ્રધાન શ્રી નરેન્દ્રભાઈ મોદીના અધ્યક્ષસ્થાને વાઇબ્રન્ટ ગુજરાત ગ્લોબલ સમિટના 20 વર્ષની ઉજવણીનો સમારોહ. સ્થળ : સાયન્સ સિટી, અમદાવાદ #20YearsOfVibrantGujarat https://t.co/V4LJIc5M4g
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) September 27, 2023
“It is Modi’s guarantee. India will be in the top three economies of the world in a few years,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said he had then envisaged Gujarat becoming the growth engine of India during his stint as the chief minister of the state. “In 2014, I got an opportunity to serve the Nation. The vision expanded and now I want to see India becoming a growth engine for the world,” he said.
Two Decades of Vibrancy and Vision!
Over the years, Gujarat has exemplified vibrancy, vision, growth, inclusivity, and innovation. The Vibrant Gujarat Summit has been the catalyst for a new model of development.#VibrantGujarat#VibrantGujaratSummit#20YearsOfVibrantGujarat pic.twitter.com/i9Vs7oRryb
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) September 27, 2023
He also remembered the “difficult times” in which the Gujarat Global Vibrant Summits were being held. Without naming the UPA, he said the government tried to create hurdles and foreign investors were threatened against coming to Gujarat. “Despite all this, the investors came,” Modi said, pointing out that they “weren’t given any special incentives but it is the policy and governance transparency that brought them to Gujarat.”
Modi became emotional as he recalled his tenure as the chief minister. “I had become a first-time MLA and had no experience of governance,” he said. “What began in 2003 from Tagore Hall in Ahmedabad with about 300 delegates now has participation from over 135 countries, over 2000 exhibitors and 40,000 delegates from India and the world over.”
“In 2001, thousands of people lost their lives in the earthquake and lakhs were affected and had to leave their homes. There was a financial crisis as the Madhavpura Mercantile Cooperative Bank had collapsed then and as a result, 133 other banks were also affected,” the PM said.
The PM also mentioned the Godhra carnage of 2002 and the riots that ensued thereafter. He mentioned that in 2009, even his officers had advised him to cancel the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit as the world was facing recession. “Many believed that the youth will go away from Gujarat, the industries will be affected and Gujarat will become a burden on the nation,” he said. “I had unflinching faith in Gujarat and its people,” the Prime Minister said, adding that he had vowed to take Gujarat out of this situation.
From the horses’ mouth
B K Goenka, Chairman of Welspun, recalling the journey of Vibrant Gujarat said that Vibrant Gujarat has become a truly global event. He recalled the vision of the then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister for whom investment promotion was a mission. He said that the event has become a role model for other states. He recalled his experience during the first Vibrant Gujarat when Shri Modi advised him to expand in the Kutch region which was recently devastated by the earthquake. The Prime Minister’s advice, Shri Goenka said, proved historic and with all the support they could start production in a very short span of time. He underlined the vibrancy of the present-day Kutch, a far cry from being just a deserted area and said soon the region will become the hub of green hydrogen for the world. He also remembered the Prime Minister’s optimism in 2009 amidst the global financial crisis and Vibrant Gujarat was a great success in that year also. More than 70 percent MoUs have seen investment in the state, he said.
Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General, Jetro (South Asia) congratulated the Gujarat Government for the 20th anniversary of Vibrant Gujarat and said that Japan has been the biggest contributor to the Make in India initiative. Speaking about Jetro’s partnership with Gujarat since 2009, Mr Suzuki said that cultural and business linkages with Gujarat have only deepened with time and credited the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon whose recommendation, Jetro opened up its project office in Ahmedabad in 2013 to facilitate investments from Japanese companies. He also highlighted country-focused townships in India that have encouraged investments and mentioned that the project office in Gujarat was upgraded to the regional office in 2018. Mr Suzuki informed that Gujarat is home to almost 360 Japanese companies and factories. He also mentioned venturing into future business sectors in India such as semiconductors, green hydrogen, renewable energy and pharmaceutical sectors and informed about inviting a Japanese business delegation focussing on semiconductor electronics in the next Vibrant Gujarat. Mr Suzuki also thanked Prime Minister Modi for his guidance in making India a desirable place for investment.
Lakshmi Mittal, Executive Chairman of ArcelorMittal said that the trend started by Vibrant Gujarat led to such events in other states also making India a favoured destination for global investors. He credited the Prime Minister’s vision and efficiency for this. He congratulated the Prime Minister for the G20 which has emerged as a global consensus builder under the leadership of the Prime Minister. Shri Mittal underlined Gujarat’s status as the leading industrial state and how it showcases global competitiveness in an effective way. He briefed about ArcelorMittal projects in the state.
