Modi dedicates Vibrant Gujarat Summit to youth and women

Gandhinagar, Jan 13 (PTI) Dedicating the 5th VibrantGujarat Summit (VGS) to the youth and women, Chief MinisterNarendra Modi todayd said the state would soon lead theeconomic development of India and also compete with thedeveloped nations.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the VGS at MahatmaMandir here, he said the investor event was not for industriesalone. The event will also inspire corporates to invest in thesocial sector.

As many as 7,936 memorandums of understandings (MoUs),committing an investment of Rs 20.83-lakh crore, were signedduring the two-day biennial summit organised by the GujaratGovernment.

"Gujarat dreams big and the summit confirms thestate''s capacity to realise those dreams. Government alonecannot bring qualitative changes in the society, but peoplecan. If the gap between the government and society getsbridged, the state can scale new heights."

Dedicating the VGS to the youth and women, whom hecalled "sources of power" for Gujarat, the CM said the focusof the summit has now shifted on how far the event wouldbenefit in India''s development.

"Of the total investments committed, 46 per cent hadgone to small and medium scale industries. More that 400 MoUshave been signed in the social sector for capacity buildingand skill development by over 35 corporates and multi-nationalcompanies," the BJP leader said.

He said 35 top companies have committed to invest Rs20,000 crore for the economic empowerment of around 15 lakhwomen through self-help groups. (More) PTI PB VKB PD RSY