Chief Minister Narendra Modi turned the Navratri celebrations into a massive diplomatic-business development exercise this weekend as the state government got a delegation of Delhi-based diplomats from 35 countries - including China,Japan,Myanmar,Sri Lanka and North Korea - to fly down to Ahmedabad and talk shop. Flanked by senior officials from the industries and tourism department,the diplomats had a two-hour breakfast with Modi on Sunday. "The idea was to showcase Gujarat as the preferred destination for business and tourism. The Navratri festivities gave an opportunity to portray the rich cultural heritage of the state and get these countries to invest in Gujarat," Devarapalli Kishore Rao, Principal Secretary (tourism),who previously handled the industries department,told Newsline. He said the diplomats were given a visual treat of the festivities,including a three-hour performance of Garba,and were served Gujarati cuisine during their stay. At least 17 Ambassadors,High Commissioners and Charge d'affairs were part of the 70-member delegation to Gujarat. They reached Ahmedabad on Saturday morning and were scheduled to be back in Delhi by Monday night. The delegates,who met the state's industrialists,also visited the places of interest in Ahmedabad,Bharuch and Vadodara. Vijay Jolly,joint convenor of the BJP's Overseas Cell,who organised the trip for the second year in a row,said,"Narendrabhai told the diplomats about the conducive environment in the state and the industry-friendly government. Many of these diplomats had come for the 'Vibrant Gujarat' event early this year and this trip once again gave them a first-hand feel of the people and the state leadership from very close quarters." Chinese Embassy's Counsellor (political party affairs) Ji Peng,Japan's Deputy Chief of Mission Mashashi Mizukami,Myanmar Ambassador U Kyi Thein,Nepal's Charge d'affairs K N Shreshtha were part of the delegation. The delegation also included diplomats from Peru,Sri Lanka,Ghana,Uganda,Tajikistan,Turkey,Thailand,Malaysia,Vietnam,Cambodia,Mozambique,Malawi,the Philippines,Laos,Suriname,Kenya,Tunisia,Belarus,Eritrea,Ecuador,Taiwan,Nigeria,Rwanda,Montenegro,Kyrgyzstan,Albania,Armenia,Trinidad,Papua New Guinea and North Korea. During the interaction,Modi also told the diplomats about the Gujarat government's plans to organise an international Buddhist conclave in Vadodara in January next year,right after the three-day kite festival between January 12 and 14. This will be preceded by the annual Ranotsav in December,which is the desert festival of the state,he is said to have told the delegates while inviting them for the occasion.
