NASA:Sun&Moon Position good for Gujarat Economy

[Guest guest]

"You may be surprised to know that there is a report prepared by NASA which

>points out that positioning of the sun and moon is such that during

>Navratri it adds to the vibrancy of the State which in turn can boost

>investment."Modi

 

>

>NRIs reaffirmed their faith in us: Modi

>By Krutika Malani in Ahmedabad

>Tuesday, 11 November , 2003, 00:11

>http://sify.com/news/politics/fullstory.php?id=13305051

>

>Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is a past master in the art of

>impossible. He has made a serious effort to divert the attention of the

>world from a riot-torn State to one which is on the path of economic

>development. The recently concluded Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors

>Summit saw the State signing MoUs worth Rs 55,000 crore in sectors ranging

>from oil and gas to tourism. In a conversation with Sify.com, the chief

>minister said that he was optimistic that in the forthcoming years Gujarat

>would be visited by as many tourists as members from the business

>community. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:

>

>How did the idea of organising an investors summit come through?

>India is an emerging industrial giant having the fourth largest GDP in the

>world taken on purchasing power parity. Within India, Gujarat is one of

>the most prosperous and promising states. With just five percent of

>India's population and six percent of its geographical area it accounts

>for 13 percent of India's industrial output, nine percent of its mineral

>production, 22 percent of its exports, 24 percent of textile production

>and 30 percent of its market value of equities listed in the stock market.

>Besides, Gujarat produces 45 percent of India's pharmaceutical products.

>These are just some of the factors responsible for our decision to

>organise an investors summit. Our success can be gauged from the fact that

>MoUs worth Rs 55,000 crore were signed during the first three days. Going

>by the success, it is possible that we repeat this summit next year.

>During this (September) month, we celebrate Navratri with a lot of pomp

>and show and this was the best way to showcase the culture of our State.

>You may be surprised to know that there is a report prepared by NASA which

>points out that positioning of the sun and moon is such that during

>Navratri it adds to the vibrancy of the State which in turn can boost

>investment.

>

>Was it difficult to extend invitations bearing in mind the State's

>reputation of being communal? | Slide Show: Gujarat Riots |

>The reputation of the State being communal is a projection of a section of

>the media. A lot has been written and deliberated upon on the events that

>followed the Godhra massacre 19 months ago. Life has returned to normal

>and people from all sects of life are seen moving freely and fearlessly.

>There was no problem in extending invites for this summit. In fact, the

>participation has been noteworthy. We had a large presence from NRIs and

>foreign companies and this was possible as they had faith in the State's

>law and order and administration. | Slide Show: Gujarat Recovers |

>

>Which sectors have invited maximum investments?

>The response has been good overall with special reference to petroleum

>sector and tourism. As you may probably be aware, our State has a virtual

>monopoly in petrochemical production in the country, where our share is 55

>percent of the country's entire production. There were many MoUs signed in

>this sector and one of the most significant was with Oil and Natural Gas

>Corporation (ONGC) which has promised investments over Rs 4,500 crore.

>Besides ONGC, Reliance, GAIL and the Adani group, too, have signed MoUs in

>this sector. We are confident that all the MoUs would be converted into

>actual action. Another sector which would see improved activity in the

>coming years is tourism.

>

>Would it be easy to attract tourists with the backdrop of the riots?

>I don't want there to be any pesssimism. Everyone is safe here all times

>of the day. The Navratri festival is one period where we can attract many

>tourists. In fact, many non-resident Gujaratis visit the State annually

>during this time and we are making efforts to attract more. Our State has

>an impressive infrastructure with 74,000 km of roads, extensive rail

>network, 11 airports (including one international at Ahmedabad) - which is

>the basic requirement to promote tourism. There is a proposal to set up an

>amusement park on the lines of Disneyland and also have a cruise around

>the 1,600 km long coastline. MoUs for both projects have been signed and

>are worth Rs 1,400 crore and Rs 500 crore respectively.

>

>But are these two ventures going to be viable with prohibition?

>The cruise will be an instant hit. It would begin from Mumbai and go right

>up to Daman and Diu, sailing across various historic, religious and

>cultural destinations. Gujarat is a dry State but people with permits can

>drink. Let me elaborate - all foreign passport holders can get an

>endorsement by the State to carry their own liquor. People travelling into

>Gujarat from other states too can get permits and even local residents can

>get a permit made. So there will be no spanner in the works of these two

>ventures as a result of prohibition - I am confident of that. We are also

>encouraging health tourism. The 'Noor' effect has worked wonders and there

>are many people from the sub-continent who are visiting our hospitals to

>get treated at half the cost with the best team of doctors and world-class

>facilities. | Also see: Gujarat Polls 2002 |

>

>There has been a special segment in the summit which was based on inviting

>investments in education. Could you elaborate on that?

>I feel that the way to a proposperous nation is through education first so

>we have invited investments in this sector. We have proposed what is

>called the Ganga-Jamuna Yojana. Under this scheme, maths and science in

>all schools would be taught in English and the remaining subjects in the

>local language. There is also a proposal to have universities based on

>industries. For instance, as you are aware, we have a 1,600 km long

>coastline and 41 ports along it. We have invited investments for setting

>up a Port Management Institute. There is demand for nurses in the US and

>UK and we propose to set up nursing institutes. We are also encouraging

>students to take up teaching as a career as there are vast employment

>opportunities available in the US and UK. There are call centres

>mushrooming all across the State - some companies have shifted their

>offices from the South to our State as the foreigners can understand out

>accent better. We are also looking at setting up more institutes where

>foreign languages cant be learnt. The MoUs signed would be under a

>three-year time frame.

>In the times to come, Gujarat would only be identified with investment

>opportunities, prosperity and this would be possible with the presence of

>peace and communal harmony.

>

>

>

 

_______________

Frustrated with dial-up? Get high-speed for as low as $26.95.

https://broadband.msn.com (Prices may vary by service area.)