CM back from WEF, so is Gujarat Inc red carpet

At today’s press meeting, Hiren Patel of Nirma said Gujarat has emerged as the “growth engine” of India. Murli Rangnathan of Torrent recounted Modi’s “landmark” 35 meetings in 48 hours with world leaders at Dalian. Nevil Patel of Orpat claimed the reception hosted by Modi was the “biggest draw” among all events at the WEF summit.

Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani group, said Modi deserved credit for building an atmosphere conducive for growth of business in the state.

At his presentation at Dalian, according to the industrialists accompanying him, Modi explained that entrepreneurs have “the interesting capability to act as a great unifying force in a way that even politicians cannot —- bridging the gap between societies and cultures by sharing the fruits of success, as well as knowledge, labour and capital”.

When journalists pointed out at the press conference that the state is still at the sixth position in attracting foreign direct investment —- even Andhra Pradesh has got more FDI than Gujarat —- Modi’s officials were at pains to claim that the state had created massive infrastructure, and that this will start showing results in the coming years.

Incidentally, few were talking about the invitation Modi has received from the WEF to attend its annual meeting of world economic and political leaders at Davos, scheduled in January next year. Gujarat will see elections to the state Assembly by the end of this year.

In a terse comment on the bonhomie between the Chief Minister and Gujarat Inc, Union Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela, an old detractor of Modi, recently said the state government is not working for the 5 crore people of the state but its five “crorepatis”.