Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks counter-terror with US, Canada leaders

Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday discussed counter-terror cooperation, among other issues such as greater economic ties, with senior leaders of the US and Canada visiting India for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit here.

In his meeting with the US secretary of state John Kerry, discussions primarily focused on the upcoming visit of US president Barack Obama and issues like counter-terror co-operation, while economic matters and matters of regional interest also figured in the talks.

“Both sides agreed that the visit would add momentum to the India-US strategic partnership. They also noted that issues relating to WTO Trade Facilitation had been satisfactorily resolved,” an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Counter-terror cooperation was also a key theme in the prime minister’s meeting with Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander. 

“The prime minister condemned the attack on Canada’s Parliament, and stressed the need for a zero-tolerance approach to terror,” the statement said.

Modi also said he looked forward to visiting Canada.

Besides, Modi met Israel’s Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir and both sides sought to further enhance cooperation in the agriculture sector.

The Prime Minister invited Israel to take advantage of the Make in India initiative and establish high-end manufacturing centres in India. In Modi’s meeting with Akbar Torkan, senior advisor to the president of Iran, both sides reviewed progress in the implementation of the Chahbahar Port Project. Energy cooperation and regional issues also came up for discussion.

Separately, Modi also met World Bank president Jim Yong Kim wherein climate change and clean energy came up for discussion. In his meeting with the Prime Minister of Macedonia, both sides agreed on the need to enhance trade and investment ties. The governor of Astrakhan, Russia, Alexander Zhilkin, invited investment from India in his meeting with Modi.

On Day 1 of Vibrant Gujarat, cos commit 2 lakh crore

Big corporates — including Ambanis, Adanis and Birlas as also Suzuki and Rio Tinto from abroad — on Sunday committed to investing about Rs2 lakh crore and creating more than 50,000 jobs, as prime minister Narendra Modi promised to make India the ‘easiest’ place to do business with a stable policy and tax regime.

Modi also promised truly unlimited development across sectors and regions, while business leaders lined up huge investment commitments and signed 31 MoUs across sectors on the first day of the three day Vibrant Guwwjarat Summit (VBS).

Addressing an audience, with US secretary of state John Kerry, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon and World Bank president Jim Yong Kim and top CEOs in attendance, Modi expressed government’s commitment to creating a policy environment that is predictable, transparent and fair and a stable tax regime.

“Ease of doing business in India is a prime concern for you and for us. I assure you that we are working very seriously on these issues. We want to make them not only easier than earlier; not only easier than the rest; but we want to make them the easiest,” he said, seeking to address concerns of investors with regard to red tap and problems that had emanated from retrospective tax amendment of the previous UPA government.

Participating in the deliberations, several CEOs made lavish investment commitments.

Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani announced Rs 1 lakh crore investment across businesses in the next 12-18 months in the state, while Aditya Birla Group chief Kumarmangalam Birla promised to pump in Rs20,000 crore over a period of time to ramp up capacities across various existing facilities.

Adani Group and US-based SunEdison committed to investing Rs25,000 crore for solar park and Welspun Renewables announced Rs8,300 crore to set up about 1,000 MW solar and wind capacities in Gujarat. Commitments were also made by other business houses like Kalyani Group.

Hong Kong-based China Light & Power Holdings Ltd is planning a 2000 Mw coal-based power plant in Gujarat. The project cost is estimated at around USD 2 billion (approximately Rs 12,400 crore).

On Saturday, wind turbine maker Suzlon had committed Rs 24,000 crore over 5 years to generate 3,000 mw in Gujarat.