Vibrant 2013 to focus on knowledge sharing instead of investments

While the previous editions of Gujarat's flagship event the Vibrant Gujarat Summit had focussed mainly on attracting investments into the state, the sixth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, will see a shift in the state government's focus. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said here on Wednesday, "The upcoming summit will focus solely on forging knowledge-based strategic partnerships and global collaborations."

While the previous summits have focussed on mobilising series of investments across the industry sectors in the state, Modi maintained that since 2011, the government has started giving special emphasis on addressing the need for youth development, increasing skill development and creating employment opportunities, creating more women entrepreneurs in the society and giving a boost to the sunrise sectors such as green energy.

State government officials close to the development too pointed out that "Collaborations, knowledge sharing, technological tie-ups are the focus areas this year, not just attracting investments. Also, among focus sectors are youth, women, green energy and service sector industries, apart from the manufacturing sector which has traditionally drawn investments into the state."

Industry captains from leading corporate houses like the Tata Group, Reliance Industries, ADA Group, Ford Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra are nonetheless expected to be present at the upcoming summit on January 11-13.

Modi further added, "The government has realised the importance of forging knowledge based strategic partnerships and the value created by it for the industries and the society." He said that his government is committed to explore new dimensions offered by such valuable collaborations.

Industry insiders claim that drawing huge investment commitments in the current economic situation is indeed a challenge.

The SME sector too is in focus in this year's Vibrant Gujarat Summit. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show spread across an area of more than 100,000 square meters will see participation from more than 1000 companies from more than 25 sectors & 14 countries.

A concept car designed and studded with thousands of Swarovski Gems, Gold and Silver will be auctioned at the venue and the entire proceeds would be donated to the chief minister's relief fund.

Senior diplomats from the governments of Japan, the UK, China, Canada, the USA, Denmark, African Region, Australia will be attending the summit. At the summit, Gujarat-based universities will be setting up collaborations with foreign universities.

An International Conference on Academic Institutions has been organised for the same, with the objective to find a partner from the 51 Gujarat-based Universities & various other institutions and determine ways of generating combined value for the partner institutions.