Almost flanked by the two Ambani brothers, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Vibrant Gujarat 2011 event here, providing a Davos-like global platform to the representatives of nearly 90 countries and 19 Indian States.
Japan and Canada are the partners to the two-day Fifth Vibrant Gujarat 2011 event with the theme of making Gujarat a global business hub and growth driver of Indian economy.
Describing it as the “biggest event of its kind in the country so far,” Mr Modi said the 21st century belongs not only to India but also to Asia, Africa and other developing countries.
Referring to the growing disparities between the rich and the poor, developed and developing countries, and human beings and nature, he emphasised on the protection of nature for future generations.
With India emerging as an economic power, other developing countries will also benefit. “We need to develop technology with a human face,” he said.
Mr Modi counted four important drivers for development: the power of youth, knowledge, democracy and justice system.
The Vibrant Gujarat events have, since 2003, sought to transform the focus from industrial development to overall, inclusive growth. “The larger objective of the meet is global networking, for sharing knowledge and technology,” Mr Modi said.
With focus on knowledge-sharing, 22 seminars have been held in the last 40 days with 2,300 delegates attending. For the first time, delegates from 25 foreign universities participated in these events, 161 MoUs were signed in knowledge sector, 111 for capacity building and 11 to set up world-class centres of excellence.
Mr Bernad Makuza, Prime Minister of Rwanda, was the chief guest. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Mr Raman Singh, the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Stewart Beck, and the Japanese Ambassador, Mr Hideaki Domichi, were also present, besides a number of business and industry captains.
Many of the speakers praised Mr Modi for his “vision” and giving Gujarat a remarkable leadership.
Investment pledges
The first important speaker, Mr Anil Ambani, CMD of the ADAG, said Mr Modi was the third visionary after Mahatma Gandhi and the late Dhirubhai Ambani in leading the people and becoming the “greatest change-agent in India in the last one decade.” He announced fresh investments of Rs 50,000 crore in the next 5 to 7 years in cement and coal and gas-based power plants in Kutch, Junagar and Porbandar, all coastal districts.
Mr Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Sons, reiterated how Mr Modi arranged land for relocating the Nano project within three days and said the Group would now assist the State Government in rural development, sanitation and drinking water projects to “give it back” to the State where the Tatas originated.
Mr Mukesh Ambani, CMD, RIL, said his group would now be directly associated with the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar, to make it a world-class institution.
Mr A.M. Naik, CMD of L&T, promised fresh investments of Rs 15,000 crore in engineering projects while Mr Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group, said his group plans to invest Rs 80,000 crore in ongoing and new power and port projects.
Mr Anand Mahindra, Vice-Chairman and MD of Mahindra & Mahindra, said his Group would invest Rs 3,000 crore and had signed six MoUs in various sectors. HCC Chairman Ajit Gulabchand plans to make fresh investments of Rs 12,000 crore at Dholera, while Mr Prashant Ruia of Essar Group said his companies planned to infuse Rs 30,000 crore in power, ports, refining crude and water technologies.
Mr Prasoon Mukherjee, Chairman of the Singapore-based Universal Success Enterprises Ltd (USEL), promised to invest Rs 6,500 crore on infrastructure and ship-building.
Others present on the occasion included Mr Ron Somers (President, US-India Business Council), Mr Hafeez Rahman (D-G, Asian Development Bank (South Asia)), Mr Hari Bharatiya (President, CII), Mr Adi Godrej, Mr Pankaj Patel (CMD, Zydus Cadila), Ms Chanda Kochar (Chairman, ICICI Bank), Mr Subhash Chandra (CMD, Essel Group), Mr GM Rao (Chairman, GMR Group), Mr Amitabh Kant (CEO, DMIC Development Corporation), Mr DN Rawal (CMD, Dena Bank) and Mr Sudhir Mehta (Chairman, Torrent Group).