The upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit (VGGIS) in January 2011 will go beyond the state boundaries.
The event will see participation of a number of states, which will also present their salient features and pitch for investment during the course of the event.
“The idea behind inviting other states to take part in Vibrant Gujarat Summit is to project it as the premier investment event of the country. Gujarat is already well recognized as a dynamic state for investments.
The Summit in January 2011 will provide a platform to other states to invite foreign investment,” BB Swain, industries commissioner, told DNA.
Officials said that while previous editions of the event were Gujarat-centric, with the focus only on attracting investments to the state, this time, the event was “Going beyond Gujarat”.
According to officials, the idea has excited many foreign companies, who are keen to invest in India. Officials said that states such as Karnataka, Goa and Rajasthan have already confirmed their participation in the event, while Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, MP, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Orissa and Haryana are among the other states likely to take part.
The participating states will be able to make presentations to prospective investors, and also sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) during the Summit.
Asked if such a move would not affect the number and size of MoUs signed by Gujarat with investors, an iNDEXtb official said, “We are looking at the bigger picture. We have to compete with the world, not with other states. If some other state is getting foreign investment on account of its participation in Vibrant Gujarat Summit, we will be more than happy as the benefit will ultimately come to the country.”
He said the idea of inviting other states was of chief minister Narendra Modi.
The Vibrant Gujarat Summit was first held in 2003, and the upcoming edition to be held on January 12 and 13, will be the fifth one. It is slated to be held at Mahatma Mandir coming up in Gandhinagar. According to officials in state industries department, the number of countries taking part in the upcoming Summit will also be much higher than that of the previous years.
“A total of 40 countries had taken part in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2009. We are expecting the number to be around 70 this time as there is a lot of interest in the event now.
All leading countries, including leading economies, will take part in the event,” officials disclosed.
Highly placed officials in the government also said that there will be a lot of focus on the knowledge sector in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
