Foreign participants sing paeans of Gujarat model of development

Speaking at the inauguration function of the Vibrant Gujarat summit 2013, US-India Business Council (USIBC) president Ron Summers said: ?How many countries or states can boast of double-digit growth in the depressed global environment.?

But Gujarat has provided growth by policies and able leadership, he added. ?I am here to invest and endorse the dynamism of the Gujarati people,? he said, ending his speech with the slogan: ?Jai Hind?.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Japanese Ambassador Takeshi Yagi lauded the state for its spectacular development record. ?When I visited Gujarat a few years ago, the trip was an eye-opener for me,? he said.

And as an indication of Japan?s growing interest in pumping investment into the state, Yagi stated, ?Ten years ago, there were only six Japanese companies,. Now there are 60.?

The Japanese Ambassador said Gujarat was also a pivotal state in the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor in which Japan is one of the partners.

Canadian MP Patrick Brown commended Modi on his strong leadership. The High Commissioner of Canada, Stewart Beck, said Canada had a sizeable presence in Gujarat through its initiatives in the farming sector and the Canadian multinational McCain, which is doing several projects in Gujarat.

The Ambassador of Denmark, Fredy Svane, said the ?conditions for industry in Gujarat are not only the best in India but also in the whole world.? He said Gujarat was ?setting global standards ? we are smart so we decided to engage with this state?.

Australian MP Geoffrey Lee also hailed Gujarat for its development, but it was the UK delegation which was the most lavish in its praise. The British High Commissioner drew parallels between Britain and Gujarat in terms of size and population as well as their entrepreneurial culture and maintained that both were a ?natural fit? for each other and ?natural partners?.