United Kingdom India Business Council to partner in Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013

HMEDABAD: United Kingdom India Business Council, a British body for promotion of international trade and investment will be an official partner organisation in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013, the biennial event for attracting investment into Gujarat, said an official of state Industries department, just a day after the visit of British High Commissioner to Gujarat. Trade promotion organisations from Japan and British Commonwealth and United Nations have been partners in the previous Vibrant Gujarat summits.

Sources told ET that Patricia Hewitt, an MP from England and former secretary of state for Trade and Industry during the Tony Blair government; will lead the British delegation during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2013, to be held during January 11-13, 2013 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.

Recently, UK had reviewed its policy towards Gujarat and ended its decade-long official disconnect with the state following the 2002 riots, in which three British citizens were killed by a frenzied mob. The judicial outcome of the case is awaited. So far, UK has denied a diplomatic visa to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, under whose tenure the state witnessed the riots.

Despite the official disconnect, British parliamentarians have been supporting Gujarat. Labour MP Barry Gardiner, with sizeable number of Gujaratis in his constituency of Brent North, moved a motion in the House of Commons in support of Vibrant Gujarat summit of 2009. He had, in September 2010, organised a reception for a delegation from Gujarat comprising business leaders and government officials, who were on a visit to England to showcase Gujarat as an investment destination ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat summit of 2011.

Officials told ET that of late, there has been a shift in Britain's strategy towards Gujarat. There is a feeling that if any country wants to partner India in business, the state of Gujarat cannot be ignored because of its pro-business environment. The thaw in the relationship came when British High Commissioner to India James Bevan met Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Monday along with Governor Kamla Beniwal and opposition Congress leader Arjun Modhwadia.

"The meeting has got positive response from both the sides. Britain is a leading investor in Gujarat. Gujaratis are investing in Britain and vice versa. The meeting will further strengthen the ties. A couple of delegations from the UK will participate in the summit. UK India Business Council (UKIBC) will partner the event,"" said an official.