Vibrant Gujarat Summit Highlights: Piyush Goyal foresees PM Gati Shakti as global infrastructure planning tool

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Piyush Goyal: There is significant traction to the idea of connecting India and Europe via Middle East through the mega corridor announced in the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

"The rural economy has been doing well, and milk production in the country has been increasing. We are seeing a good double-digit increase in milk production and procurement. The consumer market and rural economy, both seem to be quite strong as far as the dairy sector is concerned," says Amul Managing Director Jayen Mehta.

Yusuff Ali M.A., Chairman & Managing Director of LuLu Group says, "This is the great vision of the Prime Minister. He started Vibrant Gujarat 20 years ago. This is a big international event. People are coming here to invest generously and NRIs are coming too. We are going to construct India's largest shopping mall in Ahmedabad. We will begin it this year itself."

Union Minister tweeted, "Met Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman & CEO, @DP_World and discussed the vast opportunities for collaboration offered by India's robust logistics sector."

Union Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal speaking at Vibrant Gujarat Summit in Gandhinagar, says, "PM Gati Shakti, in the years to come, will become the planning tool of infrastructure not only for Asia but the entire world."

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman of Bharti Enterprises says, "...Today the PM said "Raise your dreams", and I have the resolve to fulfil them...The platform India has created for development is unparalleled to anywhere in the world."

Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry & Commerce, Morocco at the Vibrant Gujarat summit says, "...PM Modi is an inspiring leader...We (India-Morocco) have a strategic partnership, and in the last 8 we signed more than 45 MoUs and the best is yet to come."

ArcelorMittal's Lakshmi Mittal expresses confidence in India's $5 trillion economy goal

Lakshmi Mittal, Executive Chairman of ArcelorMittal says, "I am quite confident that India can achieve 5 trillion dollar economy target. We will continue to expand our business in steel & mining, and we are also entering into renewable energy. We've signed big MoUs."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: It is possible India will be the third largest economy by 2027-28 and also our GDP will cross $5 trillion by that time. The estimate that India will be at least a $30 trillion economy by 2047 is a conservative estimate.

FM Sitharaman: We are not only aiming to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, but also aim to ensure an inclusive growth.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman: Since 2014, the approach between states and Centre has been of cooperative federalism, competitive federalism and collaborative federalism. That is how today you find states competing with one another on who will contribute how much towards India becoming a developed nation in 2047.

NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam: NITI is working on a Viksit Bharat plan for the country. It will take a while, we are still working on it. Many states are working on state-level vision documents. Gujarat is the first state to produce a state-level vision document for 2047.

"I came to India in 2003 and set up a company with five people. We have grown to 3,500 professionals. I came to the very first Vibrant Gujarat (Summit) as a delegate and fell in love with the people of Gujarat," says QX Global Group Chairman Chris Robinson.

"Vibrant Gujarat has been happening in Gujarat for the last 20 years and PM Modi has set up systems in order, processes in order and with his leadership, he has created an atmosphere of good governance and positivity," says Rajasthan minister Rajyavardhan Rathore at inauguration ceremony of Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar.

Australia’s High Commissioner to India, Philip Green says, "We in Australia are taking Vibrant Gujarat very seriously. We have got a delegation of 100 business people and that ranges across many industries from infrastructure investment to agritech and especially education. Today is a very big day for Australia in Gujarat because the very first foreign branch campus from any foreign university in the world will be inaugurated today here in Gift City by Deakin University from Australia. That makes all of us Australians very proud."

"Gujarat is a beautiful state and the facilities here are fantastic. The infrastructure and investment here have been amazing, and we are looking forward to work with more Indian businesses," says Matter Company's Rhys Moult.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed, "We are all aware of the global circumstances. So, in times like these, if the Indian economy is displaying such resistance, if the growth in India is showing such momentum, a big reason behind this is our focus on structural reforms in the last 10 years. These reforms have enhanced the capacity, capability and competitiveness of India's economy."

Commencing his speech at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar, Ryad Mezzour, the Minister of Industry & Commerce from Morocco, opened with the words "Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bharat."

President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta said, "...In my previous position as the Senior Minister for Foreign Affairs, I wholeheartedly supported India's meriting right to be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. I am continuing to advocate for India and for Indonesia, two Asian countries, to be permanent members of a reformed, expanded, more representative UN Security Council."

Prime Minister Modi states that leading rating agencies project India among the world's top three economies in the coming years.

PM Modi credits UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for 'high growth' in India-UAE relations.

"The participation of UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed in this Summit, is a matter of great joy for us. His presence as the chief guest at Vibrant Gujarat Summit is a symbol of the ever-strengthening relations between India and UAE..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a target to transform India into a developed nation within the next 25 years. “In the recent past, India completed 75 years of independence. Now, India is working on its goal for the next 25 years. We have the goal of making it a developed country by the time it celebrates 100 years of independence. Therefore, these 25 years’ duration is India’s Amrit Kaal.”

Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry & Commerce, Morocco said, "The best and the most competitive country in producing cars is Bharat. Moreover, thanks to our ideal position as a continental and world-class hub...Morocco and Bharat can work closely through a South-South triangular cooperation to promote growth in Africa, India and the world. Indeed, our strategic partnership should also enable our countries to develop joint initiatives that include the entire African continent in the process of industrializing and developing economies but also to ensure food and health. The time is right for Morocco and Bharat to forge a stronger, more dynamic partnership..."

Tata Group Chairman N Chandrasekaran announced plans for a semiconductor factory in Dholera, Gujarat, during the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. Additionally, the group is set to commence a 20 GW gigafactory for lithium-ion batteries in Sanand in the next two months, while negotiations for the semiconductor fab in Dholera are nearing completion, with operations expected to begin in 2024.

Shanker Trivedi, Senior VP, Nvidia Global Field Operations, addressing the Summit, noted today, "Generative AI is going to change the way we work, the way we do business, the way we govern, the way we live. Just like the internet starting 30 years ago and the mobile revolution starting 25 years ago, the Generative AI revolution will also do the same. Generative AI is going to affect all of you."

- Lord Tariq Ahmad, Minister of State (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, United Nations and the Commonwealth), UK, announced today, "We have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enable closer collaboration between our higher education institutions. We want to go further in the areas of the creative economy, nurturing artists and boosting cultural exchange. Business links will continue to grow, creating jobs and prosperity. Whether it's from here in Ahmedabad to Aberdeen in Scotland, in the United Kingdom, our old friendship is blossoming into a new partnership..."

- "India and Japan are special strategic global partners. Upto this point Japanese corporations have continued to invest in India with a cumulative amount of investment between 2000 and 2023 reaching 38.3 billion dollars. This amount is second in the world," he further noted.

- Hosaka Shin, Vice Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan says, "On behalf of Japanese government, I would like to express our gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for the letter to our Prime Minister Kishida expressing his condolences regarding the earthquake that hit on January 1 in the northern region in Japan".

Group Chairman and CEO of Emirati multinational logistics company DP World, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem says, "...DP World is planning in the next 3 years to invest in addition to that $3 billion. We will continue to support Gujarat's economy by building state of the art container terminal at Kandla Port with a capacity of 2 million containers. Looking ahead, we foresee deeper trade, employment and cultural collaboration between India and the UAE. DP World has signed a strategic MoU with the Government of Gujarat on the sideline of the Summit which reiterates our commitment to the state of Gujarat and India. We are proud to partner with the government for the development of India's logistics sector and we will continue to support the manufacturing industries of Gujarat and the rest of India to make India goods globally competitive and accessible..."

Speaking at the Summit, the CEO of Micron Technology, Sanjay Mehrotra noted, "PM Modi's vision to make India a global hub for semiconductors will be a huge economic driver for India's future as India marches towards becoming the third largest global economy. There is a tremendous opportunity ahead for India in semiconductors. Vibrant Gujarat will also address the visionary ideas that are critical for India's growth as a semiconductor power".
"Today, I'm proud to represent Micron, one of the world's largest semiconductor companies and the leader in memory and storage. Micron's innovations have been at the heart of all computing systems for more than four decades. Memory is a key enabler of AI and Micron is a leading powerhouse in memory. I'm proud that in June we announced plans to build a world-class memory assembly and test facility right here in Gujarat, the first of its kind in India...", he further noted.

Jeffery Chun, Global CEO, Simmtech, South Korea says "It is my honour to participate in this event. As a supply chain partner for the semiconductor assembly and test industry, Simmtech provides the best-in-class semiconductor packaging, IC substrates and high-density interconnect printed circuit boards to our industry-leading customers. We are very excited to share our own angle to the India project as a colocation investment following our major customer Micron's project in the state of Gujarat, I would like to emphasize that this is not our first time supporting our key customer's supply chain network with colocation investment..."

"I take immense pride in having been a part of all 10 editions of this Summit. Honourable Prime Minister, Vibrant Gujarat is a stunning manifestation of your extraordinary vision. It has all your hallmark signatures, merging grand ambitions, massive scale, meticulous governance and flawless execution," says Gautam Adani, Chairperson of Adani Group, at the inauguration ceremony of Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar.

Reliance will make Gujarat a pioneer in new materials and circular economy. Reliance is setting up India’s first Carbon Fiber facility at Hazira.

Adani Group Chairperson Gautam Adani says, "... Vibrant Gujarat is a stunning manifestation of your (PM Modi) extraordinary vision. It has all your hallmark signatures, merging grand ambition, massive scale, meticulous governance and flawless execution. It ignited a nationwide movement as all our states march forward competing and cooperating to fundamentally remodel India's industrial landscape." Adani Group pledged to invest $24 billion in Gujarat in five years.

President Suzuki Motors, Toshihiro Suzuki says, "The first Battery Electric Vehicle from Suzuki group will be rolled out from Suzuki Motor Gujarat by the end of this year. We plan to sell this model not only in India but also export to Japan and European countries. Secondly, to expand our BEV production in future, Suzuki Group will invest Rs 3200 Crore in Suzuki Motor Gujarat to add a new 4th production line which can produce 2.5 Lakh units per year. This will increase the annual production capacity of Suzuki Motor Gujarat from the current 7.5 Lakh to 1 million units..."

"Reliance has invested over 12 lakh crores in creating world class assets and capacities across India in the last 10 years. Of this, more than 1/3rd has been invested in Gujarat alone," said Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani.

"Reliance will continue to play a leading role in Gujarat's growth story with significat investments in the next 10 years. Specifically, Reliance will contribute to making Gujarat a global leader in green growth. We will help Gujarat target to meet half of its energy needs through renewable energy by 2030. For this, we have started building the Dhirubai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex over 5000 acres in Jamnagar. This will generate a large number of green jobs and enable production of green products and materials, and will make Gujarat the leading exporter of green products. We are ready to commission this in the second half of 2024 itself," he added.

UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan addressed the event before leaving the event to attend an emergency.

Welcoming the guests of the summit, the CM of Gujarat, Sri Bhupendrabhai Patel says the PM has not only made the summit an opportunity for business branding, but also for business bonding.

The inauguration ceremony will continue till 12.30 pm. This will include the PM's address at around 11.45 am. Moreover, Reliance boss Mukesh Ambani is expected to speak at the event at 10.10 am.

The inauguration ceremony starts with Gujarati folk music.

Ahead of the event, CEO of Brisbane Alarm Monitoring, Virginia Tobias said, "... I love India. There is very much opportunity for Australia-India partnership..."

"Uganda will look to make some investments in India. Our Speaker will meet people here and look for investment opportunities here. India and Uganda are very good friends. There are several Indians in Uganda living there for more than 100 years...," says Natasha Kachaku, ICT Office, Parliament of Uganda.

"Gujarat is a growth state. Our business is headquartered here in Gujarat. We are delighted that PM Modi's vision is for growth... Like PM Modi we have a vision of making Gujarat the global hub of accountancy..." said CEO of QX Global Group, Frank Robinson, ahead of the inauguration

The event was initially envisioned by Narendra Modi in 2003 during his tenure as Gujarat's chief minister. The inaugural summit, with over 1000 delegates, took place during the Navatri season.

More than 35 Fortune 500 companies, including Salesforce, Abbott, Blackstone, HSBC, UPS, Micron, Cisco, and SHRM, are participating in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 to explore investment opportunities in the state.

Czech Republic's Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, is set to be the Guest of Honour at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit in Gandhinagar from January 10-12. Joining him are Timor-Leste’s President, José Ramos-Horta, UAE's President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi. PM Fiala will inaugurate the event on January 10th in Gandhinagar.

Dutch companies are expected to sign multiple MoUs at Vibrant Gujarat 2024

Prominent Indian industry figures, including Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Anil Agarwal (Vedanta Group), Uday Kotak, and Sameer Nigam (PhonePay), will be in the spotlight at the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in Gandhinagar, attended by global leaders, including UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Modi's two-day visit includes discussions with world leaders and CEOs, focusing on developmental projects. The summit, conceptualized during Modi's tenure as Gujarat's chief minister, marks its 10th edition in 2024, following the cancellation of the 2021 event due to Covid-19. The theme, 'Gateway to the Future,' defines this year's summit, running from January 10 to 12, with active participation from 16 global partner organisations and 34 partner countries.

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has contracted COVID-19 and is presently in quarantine at his home.