AIBC Media Release – Vibrant Gujarat 2019

The AIBC led a delegation to Vibrant Gujarat 2019, held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 17-20 January 2019.

Conceived by the Prime Minister of India when he held the position of Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2003, the Vibrant Gujarat Summit is a platform for brainstorming agendas of global socio-economic development and a facilitator for knowledge sharing and forging effective partnerships. Vibrant Gujarat 2019 was the 9th such forum for discussion on global, national and state level agendas with a focus on all round economic development for a "New India".

The AIBC has been a partner organisation of the Vibrant Gujarat summits for a number of summits and has the benefit of a deep history with the Gujarat Government.

There were 5 heads of state, senior national ministers from across the world and CEOs of major multinationals in attendance, in addition to 115 registered delegations and 26,380 registered businesses.

The AIBC was part of the greater Australian delegation of 35 members comprising sub-delegations from the Commonwealth of Australia, New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and the AIBC. His Excellency General The Hon David Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd), Governor of New South Wales, headed the delegation for Australia.

Also in attendance were The Hon Mark Coulton MP, Federal Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Her Excellency Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to India, The Hon Suzanne (Sue) Ellery MLC, Western Australia's Minister for Education and Training and Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and The Hon Shah Yaz Mubarakai MLA, Member for Jandakot, Western Australian Legislative Assembly.

In addition, during the course of the summit, the AIBC delegation was joined by Gitesh Agarwal, Trade and Investment Commissioner Queensland Government and Alan Border, former Australian cricket player, for part of the programmed activities.

The official program for the delegation included amongst other things, attendance at the inaugural session with an address by Prime Minister Modi amongst other eminent leaders and a private meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister, Nitinbhai Patel. In addition, members of the AIBC delegation attended a dinner hosted by Tony Huber, Australian Consul General, Mumbai and John Madew, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner (Minister Commercial), a breakfast meeting hosted by The Hon Mark Coulton MP, Federal Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Member for Parkes and Her Excellency, Harinder Sidhu, Australian High Commissioner to India and a private dinner function hosted by the Adani Group.

These engagements provided an opportunity for members of the delegation to meet and engage on opportunities that could be of mutual interest and benefit. These were supplemented by the one-on-one B2B engagements and meetings co-ordinated and attended by members of the delegation during the summit.

Vibrant Gujarat 2019 was a high level forum with a number of quality experiences for the AIBC delegation.

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Australia India Business Council Ltd ABN 50 154 498 218

Phone: 1300 176 684 Website: www.aibc.org.au

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