Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit 2009

The Government of Gujarat organized the 4th biennial Global Investors' Summit 2009 during 12-13 January, 2009. Based on the theme – Gujarat Going Global and aimed at bringing together business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders, policy and opinion makers; the summit served as a perfect platform to understand and explore business opportunities with the State of Gujarat.Vibrant Gujarat: Global Investors' Summit 2009 had resounding success this year too as it had been in the past. During the course of two days, 8662 MoUs worth US$ 243 billion (over Rs. 12,000 Billion) are signed. The summit witnessed participation of delegates from 45 countries, amounting to over 600 foreign delegates. The who’s who of the Indian industry were present, including Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group, Mr. KV Kamath, Chairman ICICI and President CII, Mr. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries, Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Birla Group, Mr. Shashi Ruia, Chairman, Essar Group, Mr, Anil Ambani, Chairman, ADAG Group, Mr. Sunil Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprise among several other dignitaries. Several political dignitaries from various countries such as Japan, UK, China, Russia, Canada, Israel, Poland, Korea, UAE, Malawi, Indonesia, Oman, Kenya, Italy, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, Vietnam, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Maldives had participatedJapan was the Partner Country to this Summit. This being the first time any country has agreed to partner with a State of another country. Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) was designated as the partner organization. Japan also reciprocated Gujarat’s initiatives for mutual economic cooperation by sending two senior level delegations, led by Mr. Hideaki Domichi, the Ambassador of Japan to India and Mr. Heizo Takenaka, Former Minister of Economic & Fiscal Policy of Japan. The maximum number of delegates was from Japan, totalling to over 70 members. Another major delegation was from USA.The exhibition was organized in a grand way, spread over an area of 19,200 sq. mts. There were 232 stalls, quite impressive and informative, having participation of eminent companies of India. 16 international countries participated in the exhibition from countries such as Japan, Korea, UK, Kenya, Arab League, Russia, Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago, Czech Republic, El Salvador and Uganda.Earlier Summits were organized in the year 2003, 2005 and 2007. The 2003 Global Investors' Summit was held coinciding with the glorious Navratri Festival where a total of 76 MOUs worth USD 14 billion were signed. The 2005 Summit saw signing of 226 MOUs garnering an investment of USD 20 billion. The year 2007 Summit, resulted in signing of 675 MOUs worth USD 152 billion. In the year 2009, the initiative that began six years ago, was intensified and the state propelled in to the next stage of the development process, focused and intensive growth in the socio-economic index.