In its first major step towards hosting the Global Investors' Summit 2003, the Gujarat government on Tuesday convened a meeting of 300-odd industrialists in Ahmedabad.
Addressing the gathering that included Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry members and representatives of several industries of Gujarat, chief minister Narendra Modi appealed to the Indian and multi national industrialists to invest in the state.
"Put your rupees here and be assured of returns in dollars," Modi is said to have mentioned in his speech to the industrialists.
Multinationals that were represented at the meeting included Shell, General Motors and Bayer ABS.
Representatives of several top Indian industries like Nirma, Reliance, Essar, the Lalbhai group, the Adani group, the Ashima group and several small and medium industries were present at the meeting.
Industrialists who attended the meeting said the chief minister sought suggestions as to how the summit could be made a success.
A couple of industrialists raised questions regarding problems faced by industries in acquiring land and the delay in the setting up the gems and jewellery park in the state.
The chief minister and other top state officials held a 45-minute closed door meeting with Ficci office bearers, including its secretary general Amit Mitra and president A C Muthiah, before meeting the industrialists.
Mitra said Ficci expects between 500 and 600 top business houses to participate in the Global Investors' Summit that is to be held from September 25 to October 5.
It is scheduled to coincide with the Navratri festival, by far the biggest tourist attraction that Gujarat has on offer.
Meanwhile, Vibrant Gujarat - a programme to attract investment into the state - was officially kicked off by the government on Tuesday.
To promote Gujarat globally, several delegations headed by cabinet ministers and top bureaucrats will leave for different countries next week to attract investors.
The chief minister himself is expected to visit Geneva and London between August 17 and 20. Ficci and the state government will also hold several road shows to promote the state.