The architect of modern Gujarat

FACES 2004/NARENDRA MODI

"People often ask me why they should invest in Gujarat. I give them a simple answer: Gujarat is a policy-driven state with a peaceful labour culture."
""At the inaugural function of Vibrant Gujarat-Global Investors' Summit, on September 28, 2003.

"If quality is your password, then log on to Gujarat. If you sow a rupee here, you will reap a dollar."
"" Welcoming investors into the state at the inaugural function of Global Investors' Summit on September 28.

"Gujarat will soon emerge as the petroleum capital of India. The Rs 66,000 crore investment MoUs is a sign of the changing scenario in the state."
"" on December 21, 2003, on the eve of the completion of one year in office.

In the new year, Modi will be watched very closely by the industries and the business community in Gujarat and India.

He assured to build an investor-friendly Gujarat and remove red-tapism during 2003.

Be it announcing new policies for industries, tourism and mining, organising the Global Investors' Summit, setting up a huge gas grid to provide CNG to user industries and vehicles or attempting to bring in an efficient work culture among the officials and ministers, chief minister Modi can perhaps be credited with putting in place just the right launching pad for growth for the state in 2004.

Showcasing the achievements of the government on completion of one year in office on December 21, Modi gave an indication of things to come, when he said the future performance of a state government is largely decided by what it does in its first year in office and added that he expects a bright future for the state in the coming years.

The biggest achievement is laying the 1,500-km gas grid across the state to transport gas to user industries and cities.

Over 500 kms of the gas pipeline has already been laid and the government aims at quickly completing this in the current year, even as two LNG terminals "" LNG Petronet at Dahej and Shell LNG terminal at Hazira "" are quickly taking shape.

There has been an attempt to expedite providing of licences, revamping the district industries centres and changing the functioning of industrial estates.

Modi said his aim in 2004 was to provide just the right environment for industrialists in the coming years.

"Earlier, incentives were offered to lure investors. We want to change that by providing the right environment for industrialists. Coupled with this is an ambitious plan to develop cluster industries in the state."

On the tourism front, the chief minister has said event-based tourism, like the Uttarayan festival this month that the government is promoting in a big way, will get top priority.

Modi has decided to make the Uttarayan festival an annual feature where NRGs will be invited to the state.

He has also announced that the government will celebrate the Republic Day at Jamnagar this January 26.

He has experimented with this in the past year too.

Stating that over 65 per cent the electoral promises made prior to December 2002 have already been fulfilled, Modi said his aim will be to fulfill all electoral promises in as short time as possible.

Gujarat's progress in the year ahead will undoubtedly depend a lot on how the chief minister chalks out growth strategies for the state.