Gujarat CM pitches state as long-term tech partner in US meets with over 100 industry leaders

Gandhinagar, Aug 18 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday held a series of round-table and one-to-one meetings with more than 100 leaders from the semiconductor and technology sectors in the US, pitching the state as a long-term strategic partner for technology, innovation and supply-chain development rather than merely an investment destination.

On the second day of his US visit, Patel and a state government delegation also engaged with leaders from artificial intelligence, EdTech, HealthTech, gaming and DeepTech, with discussions focusing on opportunities for investment, research, skilling and business collaboration between American companies and the state.

Patel invited the companies to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027, scheduled for January next year, and explore potential partnerships through business-to-business and business-to-government meetings.

During discussions with semiconductor and technology leaders, Patel highlighted the potential to combine Silicon Valley’s technological capabilities with Gujarat’s industrial base.

He said the state government is committed to developing a complete ecosystem for technology companies, extending from research and development and innovation to manufacturing and global expansion.

“The success of a next-generation technology hub will depend not only on innovation but also on the ability to provide all facilities such as land, electricity, connectivity, capital, talent and policy stability together. Gujarat is ready to provide all of this and facilitate technology-led investment,” Patel said.

The meetings also focused on the state’s ambition to strengthen its position in semiconductor manufacturing and emerging technologies.

Gujarat has been positioning itself as a major semiconductor and electronics manufacturing destination, with the state government recently describing it as a fast-moving hub for chip manufacturing driven by policy stability, infrastructure and ease of doing business.

Industry representatives who attended the meetings highlighted Gujarat’s infrastructure, policy stability, faster permission processes and what they described as its business-friendly and proactive approach.

At a separate round table involving leaders from AI, HealthTech, EdTech and gaming, discussions covered emerging applications of artificial intelligence, generative AI, robotics, education technology, healthcare technology and gaming.

The participants also examined potential applications of these technologies in Gujarat as industries across sectors undergo technological transformation.

Discussions included generative AI models, including large language models, as well as their applications in advertising, content creation, video generation and education.

Gaming was another area of discussion, with Patel and industry leaders examining opportunities for developing the sector in Gujarat.

The discussions also considered the opportunities linked to the Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in Gujarat and the possibility of strengthening the state’s gaming ecosystem through supportive policies, innovation and greater industry participation.

Patel’s US visit is part of a wider international outreach ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.

On the first day of the tour, he also engaged with members of the Gujarati diaspora in San Francisco and sought stronger links between global Gujarati talent and the state’s emerging semiconductor, AI and technology ecosystem.

Chief Secretary M K Das and Additional Chief Secretary (Industries Department) Mamta Verma also addressed the meetings, outlining the state’s development journey, the successive editions of the Vibrant Gujarat summit and preparations for the 2027 edition.

The state government’s pitch in the US comes as Gujarat seeks to expand beyond conventional manufacturing and attract investment across semiconductors, AI and other technology-intensive sectors, while building an ecosystem that connects research, talent, manufacturing and global market.

–IANS

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