Meeting with Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi – 12th December 2011, Gujarat.

A 33-member delegation of the American Chamber of Commerce in India (Amcham), led by its Chairman, Mr. Atul Singh, Vice Chair (South Asia), Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC), and President & CEO, Coca-Cola India, met with the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi, on 12th December 2011 in Gandhinagar.

The delegation included India based CEOs of U.S. companies operating in diverse sectors of the economy in the country. The interaction with the Chief Minister was very informative, inspiring and stimulating. Mr. Modi clearly spelt out his vision, priorities, focus and desire to attract foreign direct investment into the State of Gujarat.

The Chief Minister expressed desire to make India self sufficient in defense equipment by setting up manufacturing units in the country. He outlined the State Government’s initiatives in setting up maritime security equipment projects in view of the State’s 1,600 km. long coastline.

Encouraged with Mr. Modi’s farsighted approach, Amcham members expressed keenness in providing technical expertise to Gujarat for the manufacturing of defense equipments. In this regard, it was agreed to organize a special Seminar that will cover all the aspects of the manufacturing of defense security equipments. Mr. Modi emphasized that the State of Gujarat’s focus was on upgradation of infrastructure, port development, railways, solar and renewable energy, rain water harvesting, waste water treatment, skill development, education, etc.

The Chief Minister also mentioned about the State’s solar power consumption incentive policy and agro-green house power policy which were are in preparation phase. He said that the solar energy policy was not meant only for power generation, it was also essential for saving the world from the problem of global warming. Gujarat had initiated in promoting renewable energy sources and in bringing qualitative changes in the life style of the people.

Responding to concerns expressed by members on land acquisition, the Chief Minister clarified that the State Government involved the farmers in the development process. Even the Supreme Court had lauded the State’s land acquisition policy.

Prior to the interaction with the Chief Minister, the delegation had a fruitful meeting with the following senior officials of the Gujarat Government:

» Mr. A.K. Joti, Chief Secretary
» Mr. A.K. Sharma, Secretary to Chief Minister, and Chief Executive Officer, Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board
» Dr. J. Pandian, Principal Secretary, Energy & Petrochemicals Department
» Mr. B.B. Swain, Industries Commissioner, and Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation
» Mr. Rajesh Kishore, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department
» Mr. Mukesh Kumar, Managing Director, Industrial Extension Bureau

Possibilities of investment and setting up of projects by the American companies in Gujarat were discussed and it was agreed that the State Government and Amcham would jointly create a work plan in this regard.

Members discussed possibilities of cooperation in renewable solar power generation; healthcare; water scarcity; steady increase in the electrical energy tariffs; allotment of land; education; cloud-based technologies; helping small/medium businesses to grow and drive productivity; availability of power; connectivity of road to port facility; supply of equipment for internal security, viz. maritime security, safe cities and cyber security; etc.