Gujarat, the whole of India’ business ready’ like never before: Foreign Secretary

Foreign Secretary Shringla emphasised how India is making huge public investments in improving its infrastructure and making doing business faster through digital processes.

New Delhi: The state of Gujarat and the whole country are now ready for business "as never before," stated Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla while speaking at the Curtain Raiser Event for Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

"The government has placed great emphasis on improving the ease of doing business. The implementation of Goods and Services Tax and other measures of simplification and consolidation of taxes have reduced transaction costs and improved ease of doing business," he said.

Mr Shringla said India has also made doing business smarter. 

"We have made doing business faster and smoother through digital processes, online transactions and single point interfaces. Digital payments, including direct transfer of government benefits, are now under 
full implementation. India has created one of the largest eco-systems in the world for start-ups and a number of them have come up in the tech domain," the Foreign Secretary said.

Mr Shringla said India is also making huge public investments in improving its infrastructure. He pointed out that lately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Gati Shakti–the National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity–designed to create a 'seamlessly connected India'. 

"Our National Education Policy has laid the framework for educating a workforce for the 21st century," he said.

The next edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, initially conceptualised during the tenure of Narendra Modi as the state Chief Minister, is scheduled to be held in January next year. The summit is being organised as the Gujarat government envisions to scale up investments. 

Modi will inaugurate the three-day summit on January 10, 2022. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called on Modi in the capital on Thursday. He also met industry captains. 

In his address, Foreign Secretary Shringla also said that Gujarat has been quick in recovering from the economic impact of the pandemic. 

Despite the economic disruption caused by COVID-19, India's FDI inflows stood at USD 81.72 billion in 2021. Gujarat was one of the top recipients of these FDI inflows among the Indian States. 

He said Gujarat opened its doors to global companies looking to diversify their manufacturing bases following the pandemic. "The Government of India is partnering with the State Government in its endeavors to attract fresh investments and boost economic activity."