Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has invited the Gujarati diaspora in Washington to invest in hotels and tourism infrastructure, as the state positions itself for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2027. Speaking at an event organised by the Vishva Umiya Foundation, Patel said the government is preparing a new tourism policy, welcoming investment in hotels and related infrastructure.
"The government is coming out with a new tourism policy. I welcome you to invest in setting up hotels and related infrastructure in the state," Patel said at the community event, as reported by India Today with PTI inputs.
Patel is in North America to invite industrialists, investors and technology leaders to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2027 and to invest in the state. According to India Today, he has been projecting Gujarat as a growth engine of India, outlining plans in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centres and biotechnology. The outreach is part of a push to draw global capital ahead of the summit, the report said.
During his Washington visit, Patel also held meetings at the World Bank and with business leaders from the Indian diaspora, according to India Today. At an interactive session at the World Bank, he made a presentation on Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
Patel arrived in Washington from San Francisco, where he highlighted the state's plans to become a global hub for semiconductors, AI, data and biotechnology, India Today reported. He underscored Gujarat's commitment to "Viksit Bharat" by 2047 through "Viksit Gujarat-2047."
New Jersey events: community and cultural engagements
The chief minister's North America itinerary also included stops in New Jersey, where he addressed the Indian-American Gujarati community and visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham complex in Robbinsville, as reported by Lokmat Times.
At the Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center, Patel spoke to an audience of Gujarati families. He recalled the conception of Vibrant Gujarat in 2003, saying, "Gujarat thought about it then, and today we are receiving its benefits," according to Lokmat Times. He pointed to GIFT City as another idea pursued before its full potential was widely understood, and said Gujarat had prepared a development roadmap through 2047, dividing the state into six zones and identifying focus sectors and targets.
Patel presented policy, transparency and infrastructure as foundations of Gujarat's appeal to investors, saying, "If development has to take place, infrastructure is necessary" (as quoted by Lokmat Times). He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with laying a strong foundation for the state's growth.
The chief minister urged the community to contribute strongly to their adopted country and to bring investment, knowledge and experience to Gujarat, Lokmat Times reported.
At the Akshardham complex, Patel visited the Swaminarayan Akshardham Museum, which is still under construction. According to Brahmavihari Swami, a senior BAPS leader, Patel was "deeply touched by the serene and spiritual environment" and praised the museum's portrayal of Indian culture, saying, "You brought India's culture back to life" and "This is where the culture of India is vibrant."
The museum spans 100,000 square feet and will feature 85 immersive dioramas, 40 multimedia presentations and 200 lifelike statues, Lokmat Times reported. Displays include representations of Dholavira, Rani ki Vav, a Gujarat haveli and the Konark wheel. The museum is being completed with the help of volunteers; the Akshardham complex was inaugurated in October 2023 after contributions from 12,500 volunteers.
The last Vibrant Gujarat summit was held in January 2024, and the 11th edition is scheduled for 2027, according to India Today.