Vibrant Gujarat to focus on small industries: Modi

September 4th, 2009 GANDHINAGAR - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lead a business delegation to Oman later this year to discuss developing a port in the state with the Gulf nation's assistance, an official said here Friday. According to the official in the chief minister's office, Modi has accepted an invitation from Oman's Commerce Minister Maqbool Ali Sultan to discuss trade relations and building a port on Gujarat's coast.

April 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD - Even as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran L.K. Advani aims to become prime minister, many in the party see Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the next holder of the top post.

April 23rd, 2009 AHMEDABAD - Gujarat Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi on Thursday invited Congress President Sonia Gandhi to Gujarat. "Sonia Gandhi is coming to Gujarat for campaigning.

February 15th, 2009 VADODARA - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said it was unfortunate that the country's political system 'fosters the dominance of one family', and India needs to be free of 'such mindset' so as to release 'tremendous energy for a vibrant democracy'. Speaking after unveiling the statue of Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan here late Sunday, Modi emphasised the need to recognise the contributions of great Indian leaders.

February 11th, 2009 GANDHINAGAR - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Thursday called for state-specific funding programmes and special packages for the state's ailing industries, including the diamond processing sector. Modi made the observations during a meeting with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor D.

January 16th, 2009 AHMEDABAD/NEW DELHI - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that L.K. Advani, and not he, was the right man as the prime ministerial candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party - and the veteran BJP leader praised Modi for making Gujarat 'vibrant'.

January 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The ruling Congress criticised as 'highly insensitive' remarks by two corporate heads projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as prime minister material, while an uncomfortable Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to play down the praise for their party leader. 'It is utter insensitivity of these people (the corporate bigwigs).

January 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Terming 'Vibrant Gujarat' a 'myth', the Congress party Wednesday asked captains of industry to desist from praising Chief Minister Narendra Modi. 'Vibrant Gujarat is a myth, it is a creation of Modi and the (ruling) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

January 12th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - Underlining the importance of the Buddha's teachings in the contemporary world, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday said he wished to build a Buddhist temple in the state. 'Gujarat has ancient structures of Buddhist temples.

January 11th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - On the first day of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit Monday, Chief Minister Narendra Modi held one-on-one meetings with eight delegations, including from Britain and Japan. Modi also held parleys with delegations from Mongolia, Oman, Commonwealth Business Council and Virginia Port Authority at the Science City grounds.

January 11th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - The 4th Vibrant Gujarat global investors summit which began Monday set a record of sorts with 114 MoUs entailing a capital investment of over Rs.3.4 trillion (Rs.349,752 crore) in the energy sector alone being signed on the first day of the two-day event. The MoUs were inked in the presence of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and a large number of captains of energy sector from across the world.

January 10th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - Noting the level of participation at the global investors summit in Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said it was a recognition of the achievements the state had made. 'For the first time, over 37 companies are coming to one state function.

January 9th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi wants a university proposed by a worldwide organisation of Jains to be set up in the state. 'We have three choices for setting up a university.

December 29th, 2008 NAVASARI - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday asked people of the state to resolve to build a 'Golden Gujarat'. 'The entire country is looking at us and at our development.

December 22nd, 2008 AHMEDABAD - Despite the global economic slowdown, Gujarat is still on 'investors' radar' and has the potential to take the maximum advantage of the economic situation, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday. Laying foundation stone for Dishman Pharma's chemicals and engineering special economic zone (SEZ) at Bavala-Bagodara near here, he said: 'Gujarat is marching on the path of progress when global banks, insurance companies and firms are in the grip of economic crisis.' 'The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project is going to change the contours of industrial development maps.