The United States of America (USA) is set to join the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit (VGGIS) bandwagon along with seven other nations as a partner country.
The Gujarat Government on Monday disclosed that the Ambassador of USA in India, Kathlene Stephens accepted the State Government’s invitation to become a partner country in the biennial event, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2015 in Gujarat’s capital Gandhinagar.
On October 17 this year, US Consul General posted at the US Consulate in Mumbai, Tom Vajda expressed desire on behalf of the US Government to become partner country in VGGIS-2015 to be held during January 11 to 13. Responding to the proposal letter of the US Government, the Gujarat Government extended official invitation to the Ambassador of USA.
Brainchild of Narendra Modi — VGGIS — was initiated in the year 2003 as a platform to showcase Gujarat as global investment destination. During Modi’s prolong tenure of 13 years as Chief Minister; Gujarat successfully organised six editions of VGGIS successfully. However, the US Government did not take part in all Vibrant Gujarat events as it had cut down all diplomatic relations with Gujarat in wake of 2002 communal riots. The US Government also rejected diplomatic visa of Narendra Modi in the year 2005.
It was only after the announcement of Narendra Modi as BJP’s prime ministerial candidate in September 2013, the US Government took strategic initiative to improve relations with Gujarat. Ahead of the lok Sabha elections, then US Ambassador to India — Nancy Powel — made it a point and met Modi at the State capital in February 2014. As a result of Modi’s much talked about visit to USA in September this year, the US Government finally zeroed in on the VGGIS. Apart from USA, seven other countries including Canada, Japan, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, Singapore and South Africa are on-board of the seventh edition of VGGIS as partner countries.
“The US Government has shown keenness to have American Pavilion in VGGIS-2015 trade show. USA also plans to hold a country seminar to create awareness on Indo-US trade. The US Government’s thrust will be on tourism and education,” said Gujarat Government’s spokesman and senior Minister Nitin Patel, adding that the USA decided to join the event as partner country after successful meeting between Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and US ambassador Kathlene Stephens on October 20th this year.
The brand “Vibrant Gujarat” as an ‘Investors’ Summit’ has now evolved into an ideal platform for knowledge sharing, social and business transformation, said Patel, adding, “The summit gradually evolved into a round-the-year investment promotion exercise with events scheduled well in advance of the main Summit planned in 2015.”