New proposals awaits in Gujarat

Ahmedabad: Uganda-based Indians of Gujarati origin have proposed to set up an exclusive development park as an SEZ in Gujarat while their Kenyan counterparts have mooted a wheat processing unit for making biscuits near Ahmedabad.

These and some other proposals would be discussed at a seminar to be held here on December 27 as a prequel to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit, scheduled to be held on January 12 and 13, 2009, Mr D. Rajagopalan, Chief Secretary, told at a news conference, after the return of a business delegation led by the Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, from a four-day tour of the two East African nations from November 17 to 20.

Mr Modi, who visited Africa on an invitation from Kenya and marketed the public-private partnership model adopted by Gujarat, held wide-ranging discussions with the Kenyan Vice-President, Mr Stephan Alaonzo Mushioka, and the Ugandan President, Mr Yoweri Musheveni, among others.

His delegation included leading industrialists such as Mr Gautam Adani and Mr B.M. Vyas, Managing Director, Amul.

The Kenyan Prime Minister, Mr Raila Odinga, will lead a business delegation to discuss various business-related issues during the summit here, he said. Mr Modi mooted the idea of an officials’ committee from Gujarat to help the Africans frame appropriate laws for various development efforts and find out ways as to how the State could assist the two nations which have a sizeable number of people of Gujarati origin.

The Africa-based Gujaratis have also evinced interest in participating in the State’s businesses and industries such as the ports, agro-products, food processing and gems and jewellery.

Mr Parimal Nathwani, Group President, Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Rajya Sabha MP, who was part of the 17-member delegation, said the Kenyans have shown interest in developing a 100-km-long hydrocarbon pipeline together with his company. About a century ago, the Gujaratis had laid a railway track in that country, he said.

Mr Chintan Parikh, CMD of textile company Ashima Group, has proposed to grow cotton in 20,000 hectares in Uganda through a joint venture.