Within a month of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much talked about visit to the United States of America, the US Government responded positively and has shown keenness to become partner country in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit (VGGIS) to be held from January 11 to 13 next year.
Confirming the development on Friday, US Consul General posted at the US Consulate in Mumbai, Tom Vajda said that the US Government has initiated official procedure by sending a proposal letter to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel to join the VGGIS-2015. Vajda was in Gandhinagar to attend ‘Urban Design and Planning’, seminar organised by the Government of Gujarat in a run-up to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
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 didn’t take part in all those Vibrant Gujarat events as it had cut down all diplomatic relations with Gujarat in wake of 2002 post riots. Even, the US Government also rejected diplomatic visa of Narendra Modi in the year 2005.
It was only after 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 Gandhinagar in February 2014.
Already seven countries – Canada, Japan, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, Singapore and South Africa are onboard of the seventh edition of VGGIS as partner countries. Now the US has shown intention to join the bandwagon for the biennial event, which will be inaugurated by Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, terming Gujarat as preferred investment destination for the US companies, the US consul asserted that his Government recognised the importance of Vibrant Gujarat as a platform to support the India-US economic engagement. The US companies are keen to invest in India and Gujarat is one of the most favorite destinations because of its business friendly environment, said Vajda while talking to reporters.
“Besides scouting for business opportunities to invest in Gujarat, we intend to utilise the VGGIS platform to showcase US as a major tourism, education and business destination,” he said adding that companies in US are keen to be part of India’s around $ 2 trillion infrastructure sector. The US companies are interested in Government of India initiative of smart city projects.
Apart from defence, health and skill development sectors, the US firms are also looking at India’s growing energy sector that includes tapping opportunities in renewable energy too, said the consul general.