British Parliamentary Delegation Meets Gujarat Chief Minister to Discuss Trade and Investment
Gujarat Identified as a Preferred Investment Destination due to Proactive Policies and Infrastructure
An important meeting took place between Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and eight members of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) of the British Parliament in Gandhinagar. The meeting was held as part of the APPG's tour of India, which focuses on trade and investment between the UK and India, particularly in Gujarat. The delegation included MPs from the Conservative Party, Labor Party, Scottish National Party, and the Independent Cross Bench of the British Parliament.
Gujarat: A Preferred Destination for Foreign Investment
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel highlighted Gujarat's strong industrial and logistics infrastructure, comfortable quality of social life, proactive policymaking, ease of doing business, and investor-friendly approach as reasons for the state being a preferred investment destination. He also noted that Gujarat leads other Indian states in trade, industry, and manufacturing, making it the first choice for foreign investment, as demonstrated by the success of the Vibrant Summit.
Gujarat's Green Energy Contribution
Patel informed the British Parliament members that Gujarat contributes 15% to India's solar and wind power generation and green-clean energy. The delegation showed keen interest in learning about Gujarat's conducive environment for industries, including solar rooftop, green growth, waste-to-energy, and steel plants.
A Request to Establish Campuses in GIFT City
Impressed by Gujarat's strong logistics infrastructure and supply chain, the delegation expressed their belief that the state could become a global gateway. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel invited the members to experience the world-class facilities of GIFT City and the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) firsthand. The delegation was also informed about the state's higher education and sector-specific universities. Patel noted that the Gujarat Biotechnology University near GIFT City was established in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, UK, and invited top UK universities to consider opening campuses in GIFT City.
