Govt ‘poll-vaults’ to Vibrant Gujarat summit next year

Though different arms the Gujarat government,including INDEXTb,Gujarat Urban Development Company and Gujarat Maritime Board,are involved in organising these pre-events,officials associated with the planning say the government will eventually pull out of these events once elections are announced in the state and model code of conduct comes into force.

The five-year term of the present BJP government is set to end in December,but that has not deterred it from firming up plans for one of its flagship events to attract investors and showcase the state’s industrial and economic prowess.

“Looking at the detailed itinerary drawn up for Vibrant Gujarat summit,it seems that the BJP-led state government is sure of winning the Assembly elections and is not too keen on disturbing the summit schedule that is being followed since 2003,” said an official. The details of the pre-events have also been listed on the official website of Vibrant Gujarat.

Maheshwar Sahu,principal secretary (industries and mines),said,“The focus of Vibrant Gujarat summit to be held in January 2013 will be innovation,knowledge,sustainability and entrepreneurship. There were 67 seminars organised in 2011 (sixth edition of the summit). This year,there will be about 100 pre-events that will be held from this month onwards.”

Sahu was present at a Pharma Conclave by FICCI,one of the first such pre-events organised on Thursday.

“This conclave is part of the Vibrant Gujarat summit that the government is scheduled to hold in January next year,” said state’s Health Minister Jayanarayan Vyas.