Jammu, Jan 12: In a notable address at the closing ceremony of the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah appealed to industrialists in Gujarat to consider expanding their businesses in the northern part of the country, with a special emphasis on investing in Kashmir. Shah urged the business community to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative in mainstreaming Kashmir.
Addressing the audience at the summit, Shah stated, “I would like to tell Gujarati industrialists, in case they want to expand towards the north, then please invest in Kashmir. By doing so, please support Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative in mainstreaming Kashmir.” The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit served as a platform for this appeal, with Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha also making a similar call to investors.
During the summit, Sinha disclosed that he had signed seven MoUs for investments in Jammu and Kashmir. The Emmar Group is set to develop a 10 lakh square feet area in the Union Territory, with the UAE-based Lulu Group planning to take two floors for a retail mall.
The three-day summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the theme ‘Gateway to the Future,’ saw participation of four heads of State, Ministerial delegations from more than 30 countries and 16 partner organizations and delegations from more than 100 countries. It was utilized by the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region to showcase investment opportunities in the North-Eastern regions.
Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha and many other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Amit Shah, in his closing address, highlighted the transformative impact of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit over the last two decades, commending Gujarat as a preferred destination for production and investment. He expressed confidence in India emerging as the world’s third-largest economy in the next 15 years. Reflecting on the journey since the inception of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2003, Shah proudly announced India’s status as the fifth-largest economy globally. He assured industrialists of the Gujarat government’s commitment to meeting their expectations.
Shah acknowledged the nation’s transition from a perceived dark spot to a vibrant force under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership. He emphasized political stability, corruption-free governance, and policies for public welfare contributing to economic growth.
He credited the conducive environment created in Gujarat, under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, as instrumental in implementing the policies of the Government of India.
In the education and health sectors, Shah commended the impact of the New Education Policy and significant investments under the Production Linked Incentive Scheme.
Highlighting India’s space sector’s potential, Shah cited a survey predicting its value reaching US$ 40 billion by 2040. He acknowledged India’s top global ranking in real-time payments and recognized growth in fintech and electronic manufacturing reforms.
“India’s digital public infrastructure, ranking first globally in real-time payments, with 46 percent of the world’s transactions occurring in the country in 2022,” he added, while acknowledging the growth and innovation in India’s fintech sector and electronic manufacturing reforms.
Shah expressed confidence that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India would emerge as the world’s third-largest economy in the next 15 years. He also praised the recent G-20 Summit, where India’s initiative of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ garnered international appreciation. He said that the verse ‘VasudhaivaKutumbakam’ of Vedas and Upanishads has become a guiding mantra for the entire world. This is a matter of pride for every Indian. He said that India has emerged as a world friend today.
Shah said that today is 12th January i.e. Vivekananda Jayanti. It was Vivekananda who had boosted the self-confidence of India, which had been devastated by foreign invasions for many centuries. The youth were filled with self-confidence and today a great India is going to be built on its foundation.
The Home Minister outlined the structural reforms undertaken by the Modi government, leading to India’s ascent from a fragile economy to one of the top five globally. Shah underscored the political stability, corruption-free governance, and investment-friendly policies that contributed to the country’s economic growth in the last nine years.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had started this summit in 2007 and today the vision of GIFT City has become a reality. When Dholera Special Investment Region was conceived, it was ridiculed, but today it has become a reality in front of us. He said that Mandal Becharaji has become the biggest automobile hub, Dahej has become India’s first investment zone for manufacturing of chemicals and petrochemicals. Along with this, PM Mitra Park in Surat, Mega Food Park in Mahesana, Bulk Drug Park in Bharuch, Medical Device Park in Rajkot, Biotechnology Park in Vadodara, Agro Park in Rajkot and Banaskantha and Sea Food Park in Valsad have attracted investment in Gujarat. All the possibilities in the area have been placed before the industry.
Highlighting the proactive approach, Shah stated that more than 25 policies have been formulated to stimulate economic growth. He contrasted this with the notion of policy paralysis attributed to the government in power between 2004 and 2014, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has steered the country towards economic development by introducing 25 different policies within a span of 10 years.
Shah drew attention to India’s accomplishments in the global arena, such as the launch of the Global BioFuel Alliance and hosting the International Solar Alliance. He emphasized India’s potential to lead the world in the Bio Fuel Alliance, leveraging its agricultural prowess. Shah encouraged industrialists and investors to tap into the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program, featuring an allocation of about Rs 20,000 crore.
He said the summit as the commencement of the groundwork to achieve the vision of a developed and self-reliant Bharat by 2047, as pledged by Prime Minister Modi. Shah assured industrialists and investors that the Gujarat government, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is committed to meeting their expectations.
