Australian investment team to visit Gujarat soon

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's efforts to promote the state as an international investment destination has evoked a good response in Australia.

An Australian delegation is expected to visit Gujarat to access the investment opportunity in the state during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit 2005 to be held between January 11 and 13, 2005.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi along with a delegation had gone to Australia to woo investors to the state. The delegation includes industrialists, representatives of trade bodies and senior state government officials.

Those who have joined him include Gautam Adani of Adani Group, and Samir Mehta of Torrent Group, said a government communique.

Modi met Steve Howard, secretary, Global Foundation, an Australia organisation facilitating intellectual and investment activities across the globe. Howard was also present when Modi met the governor of Victoria, said the release.

Two detailed discussions on various investment and socially important issues were conducted between Modi and Howard. Modi highlighted the investment potentials in various sectors in Gujarat and Howard made positive assurances to work for convincing the investors across the globe to consider Gujarat in their investment plans.

He assured the chief minister that the foundation will act as a bridge in this regard and an Australian delegation would visit Gujarat during the Global Investors' Summit, a release said.

Conversion to CNG engines

On instructions of the Supreme Court, the Central government has chalked out a plan to make compressed natural gas (CNG) compulsory for public transport vehicles in Ahmedabad, Union minister for environment and forests Namo Narain Meena told the Lok Sabha.

The minister said the Central Pollution Control Board has identified 53 cities in the country where air pollution levels have reached alarming proportions.