Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi came to Delhi to sell Gujarat to foreign investors. And not surprisingly, the forum that he used was the Ficci considering the now-love-now-hate relation that Modi shares with rival chamber CII. And Modi had a new sales pitch — FDI via garba and Hindutva.The wooing is not going to be through the usual business meetings. For Modi it will be a perfect blend of entertainment and enterprise. Planning a ‘Vibrant Gujarat: Global Investors’ Summit’ programme, scheduled to be held between September 28 to September 30, Modi has invited all the potential investors to visit Gujarat during this year’s Navratri-Garba festival.Modi used the feeling of brotherhood to invite foreign investors to the State and invest in Gujarat — the land of Garba, the longest dance festival in the world. While addressing a closed door meeting held in Ficci on Tuesday, Modi said that “this year, we have planned to celebrate our rich cultural heritage of dance and music on an international basis by combining the two Gujarati spirits — the spirit of fun and the spirit of business.”The closed door interactive meeting was attended by ambassadors, high commissioners and economic counsellors of nearly 36 countries as well as senior functionaries of several multilateral funding agencies like ADB, IFC and the World Bank. All these dignitaries have been invited with friends and family to participate in the festival and taste the spirit of entertainment and entrepreneurship by Modi.Modi’s address was largely flavoured by the uniqueness of Garba festival. The members present in the meeting were given a big dose on how the dance is devoted to ‘‘goddess Shakti which is supposed to be the originator of the universe.’’ The potential investors were also floored with the concept of largest floor dance where men and women, young and old participate till past midnight.In an effort to show the other side of the State, Modi said that “when music has died down for another night to fall again, there is the other face of Gujarat.”Speaking to The Indian Express, Ficci president A. C. Muthiah said:‘‘Gujarat has several firsts to its credit and we are very confident that this investors’ meet will bring more benefits to the State.” Regarding linking the meet with the festival of Navratra and Garba, Ficci’s Secretary General Amit Mitra said that “this is the biggest community festival in the world and can certainly provide a big platform for interaction between local industry and potential investors.” However, both the top brass of Ficci refused to comment on issues regarding business confidence and its dependence on the political situation in the State.Organised by the State government, this mega business event scheduled for September will combine a series of conventions, exhibitions and seminars during the navratri festival. “From investment to technology transfer, from collaborations to setting up shop, visitors will be guided through a gamut of possibilities and investment opportunities in multiple fields,” Modi assured the guests.Some of the diplomats present during the meeting said that they did see investment potential in Gujarat however it was too early to commit anything. A Japanese embassy representative said that “we will wait for the main event before taking any decision regarding investment.”While Modi’s speech was laced with the achievements of Gujarati entrepreneurial skill, its cultural heritage, temples, wild life, beaches and industrial development, nowhere was there a mention of a strife-torn Gujarat in the recent past. Modi also rattled out figures on how Gujarat accounts for 6.55 per cent share in FDI approvals in the country. Of the total FDI approvals received in the State, the US tops with 107 projects having direct foreign investment of Rs 2,637 crore, Modi added.
