AHMEDABAD: All roads will once again lead to Gandhinagar on Friday as the prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurates Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2019. With who’s who of corporate world and delegates from across the globe attending, the summit-a brainchild of Modi himself- is set to be the biggest event ahead of general elections.Launched to re-establish Gujarat as an investment destination, this biennial event has become an important part in the state’s economic and political history. Pulled off with handful of local businessmen in September 2003, the first edition of the biennial event was intended to send out a clear message that the state was open for business once again and add luster to sullied image of the state post 2002 riots. Since then, it has emerged as a global platform for business honchos and policy makers to debate on socio-economic development.The summit has worked wonders for Gujarat by positioning it as a preferred global investment destination and taking the summit’s creator to greater heights-from then chief minister to India’s PM now. Apart from endorsing Gujarat growth model, industry honchos used this platform to express their desire for Modi to lead the country as the prime minister.Enthused by initial success, the then chief minister of Gujarat Modi strived to make the second instalment in 2005 better and bigger. He himself led some of the delegations to foreign countries to attract investment. The efforts paid off as the summit attracted Rs 1 lakh crore investment and participation from 20 countries.The biggest endorsement to Gujarat model came from the then Tata group chairman Ratan Tata, who in 2007 summit famously said, “you are stupid, if you are not here (Gujarat)’. The red-carpet rolled out to business community in previous two editions resulted into an avalanche of investments with the third summit raking in investment commitments of staggering Rs. 4.65 lakh crore.Tata Motors’ announced to shift its beleaguered Nano plant to Sanand in 2008, which further boosted industry friendly image of Gujarat ahead of the 2009 summit and acted a catalyst in attracting several auto giants to the state in years to come. Despite the world reeling under global meltdown, this instalment of the summit attracted investments commitments worth over Rs. 12 lakh crore. The spotlight also turned on Brand Modi as business tycoons like Anil Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal saw a future prime minister in then CM.The chorus of Modi for PM grew louder in 2013 edition with Adani group chairman Gautam Adani wishing Modi a bigger role as the next PM. Riding high on third consecutive victory in Gujarat under his leadership, the sixth edition ahead of general elections in 2014 focused on larger national issues such as forging strategic partnerships, youth, innovation and skill development in line with PM’s national aspirations.A year after BJP-led NDA government came to power at Centre with thumping majority, Modi inaugurated the 2015 summit as India’s PM. This was the biggest of all the previous instalments with participation of foreign delegates from 110 countries and investment commitments reaching a staggering Rs 25 lakh crore.The Vibrant Summit has already gone viral with other Indian states, including non-BJP states, have emulated the model to attract investments.While the BJP government has leveraged from the summit by hard selling its development agenda, opposition Congress dubbed the event as mere ‘gimmick’ or ‘tamasha’. The present Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani at a recent dinner hosted by him stated that when UPA government was at the Centre, hurdles were created for deterring industry honchos from attending the event.In 2017, Prime Ministers of Portugal and Serbia, deputy prime minister of Russia, presidents of Kenya and Rwanda attended the event. Ahead 2019 general elections, the ninth edition is going to be no lesser than the previous instalments. Heads of states of Denmark, Czech Republic, Uzbekistan, Malta and Rwanda are going to attend the biannual summit.There are 15 countries this time and 22 nations are represented at the event with their own seminars and pavilions. Dozens of African countries have confirmed their participation in the summit as Africa Day will be celebrated on January 19 during the summit.

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