Gujarat''s growth crucial for India: Modi

Gandhinagar, Jan 12 (PTI) Gujarat Chief Minister NarendraModi today said he was "personally" committed to Gujarat''sgrowth as this was crucial for India to become a majoreconomic power.

"India is on the path of becoming a major economic powerin the world. I have personally been committed to Gujarat''sgrowth for India''s growth," Modi said while making apitch for investment in the state.

The chief minister was addressing the inaugural sessionof Vibrant Gujarat Summit-2011.

"We have not only registered overall double-digit growthbut our important sectors have also registered double- digitgrowth. Our industry has grown at 13 per cent in last decade,agriculture at 9.6 per cent, per capita income at 13.8 percent," Modi said.

"The objective of this summit is not merely to attractmonetary investments. This is an attempt to unite all thosewho are concerned about the well-being of humanity," he said.

Industrialists Ratan Tata, Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani,Anand Mahindra, A M Naik, Gautam Adani praised the industry-friendly climate in Gujarat and the leadership of Modi.

Reliance group chairman Mukesh Ambani said, "Narendrabhaiis a leader having a grand vision and (he) also has thestrength to connect this vision to reality. Gujarat isemerging as a superpower of the 21st century under him."

"After Mahatma Gandhi, it is under the leadership ofNarendra Modi that the state is seeing a phenomenal progress.

My father Dhirubhai Ambani, after meeting Modi, had said hewill go a long way," ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani said.

Tata group Chairman Ratan Tata too was all praise for thechief minister.

"By your exemplary leadership, you are establishing newgrounds in industrial development. The Chief Minister is alsolooking for rural development and we will have a tie up withthe state in this sector soon," he said.

President of US-India Business Council, Ron Sommers saidthat Gujarat was a state with a business environment andextraordinary work ethic. "This time Japan and Canada arepartner countries in this summit and I will try that next timeUS is also a partner country," he said.

Japanese Ambassador Hideaki Domichi and Canadian HighCommissioner Stewart Beck also praised the state for overalldevelopment.

The two-day biennial event being held in Mahatma Mandirthis year is being organised in partnership with Japan andCanada.