While Japan and Canada have already agreed to be the official partners for Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit (VGGIS) 2011, the state government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that the event - billed as the 'next Davos in Action' - is a success in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) pouring in. To be held on January 12 and 13, 2011, the flagship biennial summit is held as a platform for investors interested in doing business in Gujarat.
Apart from Japan and Canada as partner countries, the summit is being made open for other states to join in. It has been learnt that Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat has mooted the idea of not confining VGGIS to Gujarat only, but to allow other states to use the platform to leverage their investment potential.
As compared to 2009 when as many as 39 delegation had attended the event, the state aims to attract about 65-66 delegations this time around. Moreover, the number of delegates, which stood at 600 in VGGIS 2009, is also being increased to a target of 1,000.
What's more. Aimed to be a huge business networking event, the state has tentatively phrased it as 'Beyond Business'. "The idea is to create lot of networking and make it a premier business meet," said a source privy to the development. Also, in order to tap as many sectors as possible, VGGIS 2011 will witness a preceding event on January 10 and 11 to be held by the state government as a curtain raiser.
The government is also planning a series of 7-8 seminars in various cities in the month of December for various sectors including Sparkle 2010, a seminar on gems and jewellery industry in Surat.
Unlike previous summits that were being held on Science City premises, VGGIS 2011 will be held in the newly constructed Mahatma Mandir campus. According to sources, Mahatma Mandir campus will witness temporary structures being built to act as the flagship convention centre, three major exhibition halls and four major seminar halls, spanning an area of around 30,000 sq mtrs.
While VGGIS 2009 saw a mammoth investment commitment of Rs 12 lakh crore through signing of over 8,500 memorandums of understanding (MoUs), how many of them have materialised is yet to be seen.