In presence of Hon’ble PM of India, Gujarat CM signs importnat MOUs in Hong kong and China

Gujarat CM takes concrete steps towards fostering ties with China

• Engages political leadership for cooperation in sustainable development
• Visit results in top Chinese businesses exploring investments in Gujarat
• Focuses on job creation and better quality of life
• Gujarati business community to contribute towards Centre of Excellence for skill development on the lines of Haihe Educational Park in Tianjin, China

Gandhinagar, May 22, 2015:

Taking forward the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Gujarat and Guangdong province of China in September 2014, in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modiand Chinese President Mr. Xi Jingping, Smt. Anandiben Patel led a high-level delegation of officers and top industrialists of Gujarat to China and Hong Kong between May 14^th and 20^th, 2015. During the course of the visit, Smt. Patel held one to one meetings with top political leadership and top business houses, visited industrial parks and manufacturing facilities and interacted with both Chinese businessmen and the Indian community in Beijing, Guangdong, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

The Gujarat Chief Minister joined the Prime Minister of India and the Chinese Premier at the India China States and Provincial Leaders’ Forum in the Great Hall of People at Beijing. Chief Minister addressed the Forum on the Theme “Smart City: Smart Living”. Speaking to a distinguished audience that included the Governors and the Mayors from various regions of China, she emphasized the commonality of interests between the two nations saying, “I believe China and India also share a common future – a better and bright future – for our people. In the last decade, Gujarat has forged a strong relationship with China. The former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Narendra Modi, visited China a number of times. I am continuing that relationship with my visit here under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Modi.” Smt.Meenaxiben Patel, Mayor of Ahmedabad also addressed the Forum, highlighting the need for Smart City concept.

Enjoys support of political leadership for cooperation in sustainable development

Smt.Anandiben Patel received a warm welcome from the top Chinese leadership in the sister state of Guangdong.

Smt. Patel held high-level discussions with the Governor of Guangdong Mr. Zhu Xiaodan. The meeting was heldin the presence of Mayor of Guangdong and other senior members from key departments of Guangdong government such as foreign affairs, finance and commerce, to identify opportunities and discuss areas of cooperation between the two sister states. The Governor listed several areas of interest where the two states could partner for mutual benefit, including port and transport sector, infrastructure and tourism.

Earlier in the day, in the meeting with Mr. Lin Musheng, Senior Advisor to the provincial government of Guangdong, Smt. Patel shared her views on the strong infrastructure that Guangdong has developed. During the luncheon meeting, Smt. Patel spoke about key areas of development in Gujarat. Common areas of interest between Guangdong and Gujarat, in industrial as well as agriculture sectors, were discussed. The two leaders also agreed that stronger cultural ties would be beneficial in building long-term relationship.

Smt. AnandibenPatel was also received by the Minister in charge of Education, Ms. Cao Xiaohong, in Tianjin, where she visited the Haihe Education Park. Admiring Smt. Patel’s long experience in the field of education, Ms. Xiaohong readily agreed to work towards possibilities of cooperation among the Vocational Training Institute (Skill Development University) and skilling programs in Gujarat. Smt. Patel had a detailed tour of the educational park and appreciated the overall concept.

Impressed by the concept of Skill Development Centre at Haihe Educational Park, the business delegation from Gujarat has decided to contribute its CSR resources for the setting up of a similarCentre for skill development and training in Gujarat.

Chinese firms keen to explore opportunities, sign Rs. 30,000 crore MoUs

Later in the tour, Gujarat Chief Minister held one to one meetings with large business houses of China.They showed tremendous interest in making investment in Gujarat in areas of Renewable Energy, Construction, Smart City, Industrial Park, Manufacturing, Textiles and in developing real estate. The major companies that met with the Chief Minister’s delegation at Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong included Foxconn, China Light and Power, Li & Fung Group, Shangri La Group, China National Building Material Group, HongBang Finance and Investment, Guangdong Richwood Group and Sinofinn Group.

A total of 22Memorandums of Understanding were signed between the Industrial Extension Bureau, Government of Gujarat (iNDEXTb) and various companies in China and Hong Kong across sectors of renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure development, affordable housing, smart city, textiles, industrial parks, pharmaceuticals, automotive, electrical engineering and logistics.

Among the major MoUs that iNDEXTb signed included two MoUs with China Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Ltd. (CSMEI) envisaging cooperation and support for development of a Smart City (worth $3 billion or about INR 19,000 crore) and for setting up of an Industrial Park (worth $1.6 billion or about INR 10,000 crore) for investment in the Park infrastructure and manufacturing units in the Park.

In addition, the Gujarat delegation also held discussions for establishing institutional relationships between Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (CASME), and China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and for engaging with various medium and small business enterprises through these organizations.

List of MoUs:

HERE

Experiencing Modern Economic Ecosystem& Smart City concept

Smt.Anandiben Patel visited the manufacturing facilities of Foxconn Technology Group, the electronics manufacturing services giant, at its Longhua plant. Foxconn Technology had a global turnover of USD 148 billion in 2014 and is market leader in production of smartphones, tablets, laptops, touchscreens and LCD panels. Smt. Patel also visited the manufacturing facilities of Guangzhou Radio Group, the leading manufacturer of ATM and auto fare collection machines. Learning that cash dispensing machines are being deployed at Milk Cooperatives in North Gujarat, Smt.Anandiben Patel expressed her keenness to adopt the advances ATM technologies for intensifying the Financial Inclusion program in rural Gujarat.

At Shenzhen, Chief Minster led the delegation to the Guangzhou Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone (GHIDZ), which is dedicated to promote harmonious development among advanced manufacture, hi-tech industry and modern services industry. It may be recalled that Gujarat has already set into motion the planning for the Dholera Special industrial region which is to cover over 920 sq km.

Smt. Patel and the delegation also visited the Qianhai Shenzhen – Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zoneand held discussions for the collaboration between the Zone and Gujarat International Finance-Tech (GIFT) City for accelerating the development of GIFT city as India’s first Smart City. The Chief Minister witnessed the signing of an Intent of Cooperation between the GIFT city and Qianhai Shenzhen – Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone.

Situated at the shore of South China Sea and adjacent to Hong Kong, Qianhai Shenzhen – Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone has developed as an innovation area for modern service industry, acting as a pilot area for close cooperation between Mainland China and Hong Kong.

Offers platform to potential investors; pushes forward ‘Make in India’ agenda

Earlier Smt.Anandiben Patel attended the Business Meet and Road Show at Guangdong. The Meet saw larger than expected participation from the business community, clearly indicating the heightened interest among Chinese investors and businesses in Gujarat following the visits of Shri Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2011,and the recent visit of Chinese President to Ahmedabad in Sept 2014.

Speaking at the Meet, Smt. Patel said, “ During the visit of President Xi Jinping to Gujarat in September 2014, an agreement was signed between Gujarat and Guangdong for enhancing socio–economic and cultural ties, in the presence of the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping. A Cooperation agreement was also signed between Guangzhou and Ahmedabad as sister cities and setting up of industrial parks in Gujarat. My team and I are in China as a follow up to these agreements .” She identified the sectors such as engineering, agriculture and technology, textiles, automotive and ancillary parts, chemicals and petrochemicals, and renewable energy as areas for investment in Gujarat.”

At Hong Kong, the Chief Minister of Gujarat was hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce. She expressed confidence that businesses based in Hong Kong would find it worthwhile to invest in financial services sector as well as other sectors in Gujarat. She welcomed investors stating that Gujarat is a preferred destination for investment due to its excellent infrastructure and positive outlook of the Government.

List of Business groups met:

HERE

Gives a message of heart-to-heart connect for sustained relationship

The Indian community at both Beijing and Guangdong extended a warm welcome to Chief Minister Gujarat and business delegates. Speaking to the community, Smt.Anandiben Patel emphasized the importance of people to people connect for greater mutual cooperation between the two nations. She expressed her view that building long term relationships would be the key to strong bilateral business ties between Gujarat and Guangdong.

Key outcomes :

• The visit of Smt.Anandiben Patel as chief Minister of Gujarat has built upon the last visit to China by the former Chief Minister Shri Modi in 2011. Ever since then China and Gujarat have been brought closer by virtue of their similarities as manufacturing centres and export oriented economies.
• The visit has brought about closer understanding between the Government leadership and business community of Gujarat and Guangdong-Shenzen-Hong Kong area. It has also laid the foundations for a sustained long term relationship. Both sides expressed the desire to move closer both through trade, business and cultural ties.
• At every forum, the government leadership in China expressed appreciation of the development achievements of Gujarat and highlighted the similarities between Gujarat and Guangdong-Shenzhen. Both the states are seen as major manufacturing hubs in their respective countries. Both are coastal states leveraging their port infrastructure for export oriented economic activity.

• Mr Zhu Xiaodan, the Governor of Guangdong has accepted the invitation of Chief Minister Anandiben Patel to visit Gujarat. He is expected to be here in September this year. Earlier in July 2015, Mr Lin Musheng, who is Senior Advisor to Guangdong Province, is to visit Gujarat with a business delegation . The two governments have agreed to jointly prepare a list of specific projects and programs for cooperation.
• Discussions have been held with Chinese enterprises seeking to invest in affordable housing using new materials and speedy construction technology. This would give a further impetus to the housing sector.
• Job creation in Gujarat has been at the forefront of discussions and companies working in the field of renewable energy, and employment generating sectors such as agriculture, construction, tourism infrastructure, and transport infrastructure were also identified.
• The possibility of close cooperation in skill development programs for increasing the employment opportunities in high technology industries and modern manufacturing has been the highlight of this visit. Gujarat has expressed the desire to have an institutional arrangement for benefitting from the Chinese experience in this field. The visit of the delegation to the Haihe Education Park at Tianjin is expected to lead to a specific program of cooperation with Directorate of Employment and Training in the near future for upgrading the ITIs and Polytechnics in the state.
• The focus of cooperation in this visit has been on bringing investments from MSMEs of China and Hong Kong to Gujarat, looking to the higher employment potential and innovation in small industrial units.
• Potential transfer of technology for increasing agriculture productivity and maximizing the profit of the farmers through agro-processing and forward linkage possibilities were also discussed.
• The delegation has identified the main areas of cooperation between Gujarat and China that would enhance the quality of life of the common man in Gujarat. Investment opportunities that sync with the potential available in Gujarat were focused upon, as part of sister state agreement.
• The signing of the Intent of Cooperation with the Qianhai Shenzhen – Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone is expected to give a fillip to the expansion and development of GIFT city.
• The MOU signed with CSMEI on development of industrial park in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister and the MOU signed with CSMEI in the presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister for development of Smart City would lead to investments of close to Rs. 30,000 crore, creating immense job opportunities .
• Building on the positive sentiments among the Chinese regarding Buddhist heritage in India, the opportunities for developing Buddhist sites such as Vadnagar, Devni Mori and Talala have been identified as areas for further collaboration. It was also agreed to intensify cultural exchanges among the two states.
• As part of the sister city agreement between Ahmedabad and Guangzhou, the two cities agreed to cooperate in waste water recycling and capacity building in infrastructure such as road engineering, water supply and smart city technologies. This is intended to build better services for citizens in urban Gujarat, wherever 42% of the population lives in urban areas.
• In addition to contact with individual businesses, the foundation for institutional cooperation with associations such as CASME and CCPIT were strengthened through this visit. This would provide industry to industry contacts for speedier identification of business partners and greater investment in Gujarat by Chinese companies including SMEs.