Modi Narrates Before NRIs Success Story Of 'Gujarat On The Move'

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) Positioning Gujarat as the ''Gateway to Prosperity'' and ''a land of exciting opportunities'', Chief Minister Narendra Modi today assured a conclave of NRIs that his government would provide to potential overseas investors world class infrastructure, a friendly government and a fast-tracking of projects.

Addressing a plenary session of the 5th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on the second day of the big ticket event, Mr Modi also announced that an ambitious 1450 MW hydro-power project of Sardar Sarovar Yojna would be dedicated to the nation during this month after achieving 121.92 meter height of the Narmada Dam.

The chief minister, who courts charisma and controversy in equal measure, made a power point presentation on the tremendous growth strides of the state under his stewardship that drew prolonged cheers from the cash-rich Indian Diaspora.

''India expects Gujarat to be its growth engine. This is amply reflected in the targets set out by the Planning Commission in the current Five-Year Plan, and expects Gujarat to achieve an average annual growth rate of 10.2 per cent, the highest amongst all the major states, in order to achieve an overall growth rate of 8.2 per cent for the country,'' he said, adding that his state was in the process of surpassing the target.

Similarly, if India had to achieve nine per cent growth rate, Gujarat would have to clock 11.2 per cent, he said. ''But with Gujarat flourishing, this is in the reaLm of possibility,'' he said, buttressing his optimism with a string of statistics.

The plenary session on 'Developmental Challenges of the States', presided over by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni as the Chief Guest. Besides Mr. Modi, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and the Industry Minister of Bihar participated.

Mr Modi said the government planned to set up 33 Special Economic Zones (SEZs), including 4 in the IT sector and one for the diamond industry, two of which were fully functional.

''Gujarat is among the earliest states to have enacted an SEZ Act in 2004. We have offered complete labour flexibility to the units in SEZs in the state. We assure that our SEZs will be world class.'' About the world class Infrastructure, he told the gathering that the facilities in the state rivalled the best in the country was in tune with the requirements of the 21st century.

Gujarat was also the first state to enact a law outlining the system of public-private partnership in infrastructure projects, he pointed out.

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