Canada to partner with state for Vibrant Summit

Second nation after Japan to partner event.

After Japan, Canada has become the second nation to partner with Gujarat for Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit (VGGIS). The government of Canada has accepted the invitation from Saurabh Patel, minister of state (industries), Government of Gujarat to act as ‘Partner Country’ to the 5th Vibrant Summit to be held on 12 and 13 January 2011.

Japan, the partner country for Vibrant Gujarat 2009 summit, was the first country to confirm. Now, for the first time Vibrant Gujarat summit has two countries as partners.

While Japan will take the opportunity to demonstrate its technology and industrial practices, Canada as a country partner on the other hand will provide a focus on alternative energy, clean and green technologies to improve the quality of work and life.

"It is appropriate that Canada will become a partner country for the first time in the same year that the summit finds its new permanent home at the Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar which also uses green technologies in its construction," the government said in a release.

Canada and Gujarat will jointly explore ways to utilise renewable energy resources efficiently. This collaboration will synergize the efforts of both regions to build a green economy. While the 2011 summit will enable Canadian companies to showcase their technology, it will also give them an opportunity to invest and forge joint ventures in Gujarat’s growing green energy sector.

In 2009, the government of Gujarat signed MoU with Clinton Climate Initiaitve for setting up of large scale solar power parks of total 3000 Mw capacity. The government of Gujarat was the first in India to set up a separate department for climate change. This department acts as a bridge between government and society to address the issues related to global warming. As part of the initiative, a comprehensive policy regarding climate change has been formulated.