UK Minister thanks Gujarat CM for facilitating passage of British citizens back home during COVID-19
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held a virtual meeting with United Kingdom Minister of State for South Asia and Commonwealth Countries Lord Tariq Ahmad through videoconferencing from here today.
He briefed the UK Minister about Gujarat’s emergence as a solar energy hub, as India’s largest rooftop solar energy hub, achieving success in experiments with water harvesting. He held detailed discussion about the future 30,000 megawatt solar-wind hybrid park project to be set up in the state.
Mr. Rupani explained how Gujarat is overcoming the challenges of Climate Change under the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having established itself as the global industrial hub, thanks to Gujarat’s biennial flagship event Vibrant Summit. And, then, how the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in the State Capital facilitated prestigious global financial companies set up their offices here.
Lord Tariq Ahmad thanked Gujarat Government for facilitating passage of several British citizens from Gujarat back home during lockdown due to pandemic novel coronavirus COVID-19.
Impressed by Gujarat being globally recognised as a manufacturing and industrial hub as the best destination for investment particularly in application of environmentally clean energy like electric vehicles in public transport, he evinced keen interest to join Gujarat’s global march to economic-commercial-industrial progress and strengthen the relation between Britain and Gujarat-India.
He was particularly impressed by Gujarat keeping up its trade and industrial activity even during global pandemic novel coronavirus hitting normal life.
Lord Tariq Ahmad showed interest in the United Kingdom’s service and financial sector investing and starting their business at the GIFT City. He also assured of sending a large delegation to Gujarat’s next Vibrant Summit-2021 for greater cooperation and made it a point to visit Gujarat when he visits India. He also invited Mr. Rupani to visit the UK and explore ways to work together in Climate Change, Solar Energy and other areas in Gujarat.
Others present during the videoconferencing between the two leaders included Gujarat’s Chief Minister’s Chief Principal Secretary K. Kailashnathan, Additional Chief Secretary for Urban .
Development Mukesh Puri, Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary and Principal Secretary for Industries M. K. Das, GIFT City Managing Director Tapan Ray and Principal Secretary for Climate Change Haider.
This was followed by videoconferencing between nearly 40 leading business representatives of UK-India Business Council of both the countries with Gujarat Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary and Principal Industries Secretary M. K. Das.
Gujarat’s iNDEXTb Managing Director Nilam Rani made a presentation on the State’s policies and programme of ‘Ease of Doing Business’.