Gandhinagar, 12 January 2013

Following are some of the important points taken from Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s valedictory speech at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2013 today:

-Canadian representatives talked about need to upgrade the Canadian trade centre in Ahmedabad. Similarly the British envoy spoke about their plan to make British embassy chapter in Ahmedabad equivalent to Mumbai facility.

-The Vibrant summit had also one seminar on affordable housing.

-Industry is not sin. Some people have created such atmosphere, such an image. If we set up an industry in Canada, it’s for bringing Potash to the farmers of this country, if we talk about need for value edition in textile sector, we intend to support the cotton farmers who are unable to earn more due to ban on export.

-Gujarat is preparing to walk with the world in matching speed.

-Small and scattered efforts don’t create impact, Viraat darshan on grand scale is needed, and then only change can be achieved.

-Isn’t it fascinating that the people of 121 nations had fun to eat vegetarian dishes in these two days here?

-Gujarat’s global image is emerging. This has been achieved in very short period. To measure this situation one needs to have a new angle of thinking, the traditional angle wouldn’t work.

-We organize the Vibrant summit once every two years, and therefore many guests visit us again and again. This creats bonding and it is more effective than branding. This is an effort to connect the guests to our soil, to our traditions and culture. This is something that has been done keeping next generations in mind.

-A person in Agra may or may not have pride for having so many foreign visitors visiting Taj Mahal in his city. Taj Mahal was built in Agra by someone centuries ago, but here in the Vibrant summit when we see presence of the guests from 121 nations, we are proud about it because they have come due to hard work, and efforts mixed with sweat.

-This summit is important because our people are introduced to the world. When they see what’s happening in the world, they try to understand it and are inspired ultimately. In today’s era, if we don’t see and understand the world, we may remain like frogs in a well. We need to catch the speed of the world at right time. We can’t afford to be late and stay behind, once the world has moved ahead.

– Earlier the Indian leaders were visiting foreign countries to sign MoUs and none was there to ask them later on that what happened to the MoUs. We decided to invite foreign investors to Gujarat to sign MoUs. I’m not criticizing the earlier leaders, but just narrating this to make a point that we have selected a new way of doing the things.

-Some people will start understanding the summit after 10th summit is over(this is just 6th). Those scaling the summit with the figures will not understand it.

-Gujarat has earned its brand name in very short time.

-When in initial period when I visited Australia and London in 2003, I was asked about the location of Gujarat, and I replied Gujarat is located at one hour flight distance from Mumbai. Today they talk: ‘You want to go to Mumbai? It is just near Gujarat’. Now this change is not a small achievement.

-Imagine when these 2100-2200 foreign people from 121 nations will go back to their country, what would they say? They will of course say that the visited India. This clearly concludes that the success of the event will be translated as the success of India. These people will become the new ambassadors of India.They will talk good about India. The efforts were made by Gujarat and the event was held here, but the results would provide more shine to India.

-The Gujarat government will organize agri tech events once every two years. Such events will be held in 2014, 2016, 2018.

-I welcome all delegates to visit the Vibrant Gujarat summit again in year 2015.