Vibrant Gujarat summit to go ahead despite Covid surge

THE Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit (VGGIS), which is scheduled to be held this month, will go ahead despite the surge in the coronavirus cases across the country, the government of the western state of Gujarat said.

“VGGIS-2022 will take place as per its predetermined schedule. The Prime Minister will inaugurate the three-day mega event on Monday, January 10. As far as Covid-19 precautions are concerned, all protocols will be followed,” a senior state government official was quoted as saying by India’s Financial Express.

The 10th edition of the mega business event, which was supposed to be held last year but was postponed because of the pandemic, will be held at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, the state capital, between January 10 to 12.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi waves as former Gujarat chief minister Vijaybhai Rupani (third from left) and former deputy chief minister Nitinbhai Patel (second from left) look on at the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar in January 2019. (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)

The state government has made the RT-PCR tests compulsory for all foreign guests who will take part in the event physically. The state health department has also arranged for RT-PCR tests for VIP guests at UN Mehta Hospital in Ahmedabad, located about 27 kilometres from the state capital.

“We have also set up an RT-PCR test facility at the entry point of the VGGIS venue in case some guests don’t have an RT-CPR report with them. Four teams of the state health department will be present with necessary medical equipment,” the official said.

Any guest who is found to be Covid positive will be put in isolation immediately. Two isolation rooms have also been reserved at the venue. If a VIP guest tests positive, arrangements for their isolation will be made at UN Mehta Hospital.

Among some of the foreign dignitaries who will be present at the summit are Russian prime minister Mikhail Vladimirovich Mishstin, Mozambique president Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Nepal prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Mauritius prime minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Slovenian premier Janez Jansa.

Besides, foreign ministers from 15 countries will also take part in VGGIS. Governors of four countries have also confirmed their participation in the inaugural ceremony where prime minister Narendra Modi will be present.

Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat when the biennial summit was first held in 2003.

Leading Indian industrialists, including Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Sunil Bharti Mital, among others, will also attend the event.

Besides, Tony Fountain, executive chairman of Nayara Energy; Toshihiro Suzuki, chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation and Tadashi Maeda, governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation are also set to take part in the Vibrant Gujarat summit.