Narendra Modi

Guwahati, Nov. 16: A high-level delegation from Gujarat is visiting the Northeast for the first time to invite the business sector to participate in Vibrant Gujarat — a premier business summit to be held in January next year.

The high-level delegation is being led by Nitinbhai Patel, minister for health, family welfare, capital project, transport, who will be in Guwahati on November 18 to interact with the industry and invite participation in the prestigious summit.

Senior officials, who would also be making presentations, would accompany the minister.

The Vibrant Gujarat Summit, a biennial event, has become an ideal platform for knowledge sharing, strategic partnerships, investment inflows and business networking, not just for Gujarat but for other states and countries as well.

The event will be held from January 11-13 at Gandhinagar and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A source said this is the first time that the delegation is coming to Northeast to do a roadshow.

The event is being done in partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The delegation, which will arrive tomorrow, will meet local Gujarati organisations in Guwahati.

L. Chuaungo, principal secretary, energy and petrochemical department, government of Gujarat, will be giving a presentation on the event.

“Members of the business community from here, who want to get expertise from the Gujarat government, will be provided all help,” the source said.

There are around 70-80 Gujarati families in the Northeast, of whom majority are in business.

Quite a number of them are in the tea-buying business.

The Gujarat government has given Rs 10 lakh to set up a Gujarat Bhavan in Guwahati.

Nirav Patel, a tea buyer, said this would help the officials from Gujarat to know more about the Northeast and the problems, which this region faces.

The event is partnered by eight countries — the US, Japan, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Africa and the Netherlands.

It brings together business leaders, investors, corporates, policy and opinion makers, and eminent diplomats from across the globe.