21 countries will partner govt for first time in Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit

Singapore has returned as a partner in a big way after 2017, when it was last a partner, and will be hosting a dedicated pavillion showcasing nine major companies that have a presence in Gujarat.

A statement from the Singapore High Commission on Saturday said that High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, will lead a delegation of officials and “almost 100 business delegates to the VGGS”. It also announced expansion of its investments in Gujarat, especially in the “green economy and sustainability sector”. “He (Wong) will state that Gujarat and Singapore could explore new areas of mutual benefit such as space collaboration and investment in new zones of opportunity like GIFT City and the upcoming Dholera Special Investment Region,” said the statement.

The Singapore business delegation will include representatives from companies like DBS, Sembcorp, YCH and Blue Planet, in sectors such as finance, renewable energy, waste management and logistics. “These companies also have plans to increase their investments in Gujarat”, the statement said.

Additional Chief Secretary (Industries & Mines) S J Haider told The Indian Express on Saturday that the number of partner countries might go up by “one or two” this year.

In a media interaction on Friday, Haider had said that invitation was sent to partners “as per suggestion from the Ministry of External Affairs”. He added that Gujarat has got very good response from the 40-42 countries that have been invited to the summit.

Last month, when asked whether allegations of plots to eliminate Sikh separatists by Canada and the US could have impacted their participation in VGGS, Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar had said: “At the government level, it depends who we invite… The government of Gujarat can answer (over invitation to the countries). I would not put any political meaning.”

Earlier, speaking to The Indian Express, the office of Rushikesh Patel had said: “We have sent an invitation to the Canada high commission and also received a written acknowledgement (of the invitation being received).”

Phone calls to representatives, and an email written to the Canadian High Commission did not evince any response.

Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national currently in prison in Prague with the Czech authorities pending an extradition request from the US, found mention in an indictment filed by the US department of justice in a federal court in Manhattan, where he is facing charges of murder-for-hire, in an alleged plot to eliminate Khalistan separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

Canada has been involved in a diplomatic standoff with India after its Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, alleged Indian government’s links to the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in his country.

Canada has been associated with VGGS since 2011, being only the second country after Japan to join the event as partner. Since then, it joined the event as partner country in four editions of VGGS – 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019.
A partner country gets distinguished from other participating countries as they get certain benefits to promote industrial potential and opportunities at VGGS.