Switch conference at Vadodara in October

Vadodara, Aug 1: The international Switch Conference on energy sector will be held here in October this year, which is emerging as a power hub, Gujarat Energy Minister Saurabh Patel has said.

The Union Power Ministry is planning to organise the conference here from October 6-10 of power ministers to improve co-operation in the area of energy.

The Gujarat government has been making all-out efforts to make it a big success by attracting participants from the country and abroad, Patel told PTI yesterday.

The Switch expo represents one of the biggest networks of electrical manufacturers, innovators, technologies and partners in the industry, and a growth opportunity unlike any other for the electrical industry, Patel said.

Promoted by the state government, under Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd (GUVNL), this biennial platform is aimed to rev up Indias power sector.

"Vadodara city, earlier known as the cultural capital of Gujarat, has emerged as the country's power engineering centre with MNCs and home-grown firms backing India's power dreams," he said.

From wires, cables, switch gears, rotating machines to large size high voltage transformers, Vadodara has today emerged as the country's biggest transformers, cable, power equipment manufacturing hub.

Vadodara accounts for over 35 per cent of India's power transmission and distribution (T&D) equipment manufacturers, according to Indian Electrical Electronics Manufacturers Association, the apex body for the Indian power equipment manufacturing industry.

Vadodara is also home to an estimated 800 ancillaries supporting the big players, Patel said.

PTI