Indian-Americans spread the word about 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit Jan. 10-12, 2022

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A high-profile delegation from India was greeted by the Indian-American community in New York and New Jersey, at a gala held at the Royal Grand Manor in Edison, N.J. Nov. 28, 2021, to discuss and publicize the upcoming 10^th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2022, a biennial event scheduled for January next year.

The Nov. 28 event was jointly organized by the Consulate General of India in New York and the Indian-American community of the tristate area, led by the umbrella organization, the Federation of Indian Associations of NYNJCT.

The Indian delegation consisted of J.P. Gupta, principal secretary (Finance), Government of Gujarat, Jayanti Meghji Patel of the Meghmani Group of companies; Dipesh Shah, executive director (Development, International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA); Prashant Choubey, senior executive vice president of the Avaada Group; Sameer G. Patil, chief business officer at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE); Sundeep Sikka, executive director and CEO of Nippon Life India Asset Management; and Vikram Limaye, managing director and CEO of National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE). India’s Consul General in New York Randhir Jaiswal was also part of the delegation.

Covid protocols were adhered to and proof of vaccination was required to attend the event.

According to organizers who spoke to Desi Talk, close to 230 people out of the 235 invited to the event, were present and seating was also arranged in round tables to adhere to social distancing requirements, and in light of concern over the new variant of Covid.

Vibrant Gujarat is a biennial event, and the effort at this time is to spread the word about the January 10-12, 2022, business convention scheduled to be held in Gujarat around the dates of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas which usually falls on January 9.

At the Edison gala, two video presentations were made about Vibrant Gujarat, its origins during the time when current Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and the impact of this visionary event on not just Gujarat but also on the whole of India.

Principal Secretary Gupta described Vibrant Gujarat as a ‘global platform in which all members of the Gujarati community residing outside India, have participated in big numbers.”

Gupta invited entrepreneurs and community members to participate in and spread the word about Vibrant Gujarat’s Global Summit. The 3 days of the January Summit would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on Jan. 10, 2022, he noted. The first day would focus on ‘Gati Shakti’ or infrastructure; the second day on building a ‘Green Economy’; and the third on ‘Technology Innovation,’ Gupta informed those present. “We invite all of you and through you, your friends and colleagues to the Vibrant Gujarat 2022. We welcome you with open arms, with folded hands and with the spirit of friendship and business,” Gupta said.

Jayanti Meghji Patel urged people to invest in Gujarat and India, arguing that a prosperous state makes a prosperous country.

Consul General Jaiswal thanked the FIA and all member organizations for supporting the event. Speaking to ITV Gold, Jaiswal said the event was a success and the Jan. 10 Vibrant Gujarat will be an “super success,” and he wished all those present would come forward and support it. Deputy Consul General Varun Jeph told ITV Gold the delegation from India would be visiting Washington, D.C. and San Francisco as well after being in the tristate area, to spread the word about Vibrant Gujarat.

Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, noted that the theme of Vibrant Gujarat this year is “From Aatmanirbhar Gujarat to Aatmanirbhar Bharat’

He welcomed those present and encouraged them to take part in the growth of Gujarat. “I would like to urge all my entrepreneur friends from U.S., particularly the tristate area, please spread the word, tell your entrepreneur friends and colleagues to look into this Vibrant Gujarat and visit Gujarat,” Dr. Parikh said.

Kenny Desai, president-elect of FIA, gave a rundown of what the organization had been doing during Covid, including aid sent to India. He also spoke of how he wants to take that kind of service to the next level and get involved with the initiatives of Vibrant Gujarat.

Ankur Vaidya, chairman of FIA dwelt on the importance of India in the lives of Indian-Americans. Quoting the poet Kalidas who equated a mother’s status with the Motherland, he said, just as a mother is dearer than heaven so is one’s motherland. Since India is the Motherland, and Gujarat is part of that, Vaidya urged everyone to support and share the word about building a vibrant Gujarat and the business convention in January.