US to be a partner country for Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2017

Washington, Sept 17: The US has agreed to be a partner country in the next edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit in January 2017, an official has said.

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal announced this during a meeting with the visiting delegation of Gujarat on Thursday, State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

Biswal met with a Gujarat delegation, led by Resident Commissioner Bharat Lal who was accompanied by Indian Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

"The Assistant Secretary praised Resident Commissioner Lal for his efforts to make the state of Gujarat a model of innovation and sustainable economic growth and reform for India," he said.

"She also announced US' intent to participate as a Partner Country in the 2017 Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, the government of Gujarat's biennial investors' summit that brings together global business leaders, investors, corporations, thought leaders, and policymakers," Kirby said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry had attended the last Vibrant Gujarat Summit.

PTI