By Ascend Jiva Media Reporter | Special Report
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Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, accompanied by Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das and a high-level government and industry delegation, recently concluded a significant North America outreach as part of Gujarat’s international campaign ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.
The senior government delegation included Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das; Dr. T. Natarajan, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Mamta Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Mines; Sanjeev Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister; and Dr. Vikrant Pandey, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. The delegation was also joined by representatives of 22 Gujarat-based companies and industry groups.
Among the publicly identified industry leaders were Parakramsinh Jadeja of Jyoti CNC Automation, Jayanti Patel of Meghmani, Manish Kiri of Kiri Industries, Jaxay Shah of Savvy, Hemant Desai of Reliance Industries–Hazira, Jai Shroff of UPL, Sanjeev Krishna of Concord Biotech, Rajesh Gandhi of Vadilal Industries, Amit Harlalka of AM/NS India, Punit Patel of Zydus Lifesciences, Sudhir Prasad of Torrent Power, Nilesh Desai of Suzlon Energy and Manish Sharma of Akshar Group. Representatives from companies including Hypervault AI & TCS, Avaada Energy, Rworld Leisure, Conmat Heavy Industries, Arunaya Organics, Comet Chemical & Real Estate and Shekhani Group were also reported as part of the delegation.
The programme moved through San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Washington, D.C., New York and New Jersey, followed by Toronto. It was described as the first official U.S. visit by a sitting Gujarat Chief Minister in roughly three decades.
There is a deeper historical frame to the mission as well. From the maritime legacy of Lothal to today’s industrial corridors, manufacturing hubs, financial centers and innovation ecosystems, Gujarat has long linked growth with outward engagement. The current outreach places that tradition within the wider Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and Viksit Gujarat @ 2047 ambitions: the question is no longer only how much Gujarat can manufacture, but how much of the next economy it can help design, research, finance and scale.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das and members of the Gujarat delegation during the Silicon Valley leg of the North America visit. Photo: delegation photo set supplied to Ascend Jiva Media.
A Mission Beyond Investment
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The immediate objective of the roadshow was to invite international businesses and investors to Vibrant Gujarat 2027. But the substance of the meetings suggests a much wider ambition.
Gujarat presented itself not merely as a destination for capital or manufacturing, but as a potential long-term partner for technology, research, innovation, talent development, sustainable growth and global supply chains.
Semiconductors, artificial intelligence, DeepTech, data centres, biotechnology, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing and financial services emerged repeatedly in the discussions. The companion delegation account also highlights clean energy, Global Capability Centres (GCCs), water security, water reuse and foreign direct investment as part of the broader strategic conversation.
During the Silicon Valley programme alone, the delegation held roundtables and one-to-one interactions involving more than 100 semiconductor and technology leaders, alongside companies from AI, EdTech, HealthTech, gaming and other emerging sectors.
“Gujarat wants companies not only to invest there, but to build, research, innovate and grow there.”
That is an important shift in positioning. Global investors increasingly evaluate ecosystems rather than isolated destinations: places where infrastructure, policy, talent, research capacity, market access and execution can work together. Gujarat’s pitch during this mission was that those pieces can increasingly be connected in one state.
Silicon Valley: Semiconductors and the New Technology Economy
The San Francisco and Silicon Valley leg placed emerging technology at the heart of Gujarat’s pitch. The Chief Minister first interacted with members of the Gujarati diaspora working in some of the world’s most advanced technology ecosystems. He called for stronger connections between Gujarati-origin professionals in Silicon Valley and companies, universities and institutions in Gujarat through investment, mentorship, knowledge sharing and technological collaboration.
A series of corporate engagements followed. Publicly reported meetings included senior leaders from Analog Devices, TDK Ventures, Wadhwani Foundation, Applied Materials, Modutek and Zscaler. The companion delegation account also identifies NVIDIA and Cisco among leading global organisations engaged during the tour. The conversations ranged from semiconductor infrastructure and advanced materials to DeepTech commercialization, workforce development and cybersecurity.
Gujarat delegation at NVIDIA headquarters in Santa Clara, California.
Delegation engagement with Applied Materials leadership during the Silicon Valley programme.
Micron: Building the Semiconductor Ecosystem
At Micron Technology, Chief Minister Patel met Chairman and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. Their discussion focused on Micron’s semiconductor facility in Sanand and Gujarat’s emerging semiconductor ecosystem. Sanand and Dholera were highlighted as important centres in the state’s long-term semiconductor strategy.The significance extends beyond a single plant. To become a genuine semiconductor hub, Gujarat will need an ecosystem of equipment suppliers, specialized materials, engineering expertise, infrastructure and trained manpower. Several meetings during the visit addressed precisely those elements.
Google, Perplexity and the R&D Question
At Google, the delegation met Vice President Chandu Thota and other senior executives. Discussions included expanding AI training for students, young people and educators, as well as applying AI to agriculture through better crop intelligence, soil information and climate resilience. Data security and sovereign-AI capabilities were also discussed.A particularly interesting conversation took place with Perplexity AI co-founder and CEO Aravind Srinivas. Public reporting says the discussions explored the possibility of an engineering and R&D presence in Gujarat, alongside data-centre and digital-infrastructure opportunities. These should be viewed as exploratory discussions rather than finalized investment announcements.Together, these meetings point to an important evolution in Gujarat’s positioning. The state is no longer asking only, “Can the world manufacture here?” It is increasingly asking, “Can the world’s engineers and researchers innovate here too?”
Skills: Preparing People for the Investment
Large investments ultimately succeed only when people can participate in the opportunities they create. That is why discussions with Dr. Romesh Wadhwani and the Wadhwani Foundation were particularly relevant. They included entrepreneurship, industry-linked skilling and stronger connections between students and employers.The broader technology dialogue also emphasized the need for Gujarat to create a workforce suited for semiconductor manufacturing, AI, digital infrastructure, Global Capability Centres and other next-generation industries. Infrastructure may attract investment—but skills determine how deeply that investment benefits society.
Washington: World Bank, GIFT City and Global Markets
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The Washington programme added another layer to the roadshow. Chief Minister Patel and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das participated in a high-level engagement at the World Bank, where Gujarat presented its economic and development priorities, including the wider adoption of AI and the continued growth of GIFT City.
The Chief Minister spoke about using artificial intelligence in areas including government administration, education, healthcare and agriculture, while also discussing development financing and Gujarat’s fiscal approach. The companion delegation account adds several important dimensions to this World Bank conversation: Global Capability Centres, water security, water reuse and ways to enhance foreign direct investment into Gujarat.
High-level engagement at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., with Gujarat’s delegation and international development leadership.
Walmart and Gujarat’s MSMEs
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In another significant Washington engagement, Patel met Dan Bryant, Walmart’s Executive Vice President for Global Public Policy and Government Affairs. The discussion focused on connecting Gujarat’s MSMEs and traditional artisans to international supply chains and increasing their access to global markets.
This aspect of the visit deserves attention. The success of global investment should not be measured solely by the arrival of large multinational companies. It can become far more meaningful when Gujarat’s smaller manufacturers, artisans and entrepreneurs gain access to international customers and supply chains.​​​​​
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and senior Gujarat officials meet Dan Bryant, Executive Vice President, Walmart, in Washington, D.C.
The Chief Minister also interacted with the Gujarati diaspora in Washington and was hosted at India House by India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra. Discussions again emphasized manufacturing, technology and stronger engagement with the diaspora.
New York: GIFT City Meets Global Finance
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The New York leg shifted the focus toward institutional capital, financial services and next-generation technology. The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, in partnership with the Consulate General of India in New York, hosted a focused roundtable for the Chief Minister with institutional investors, financial institutions and manufacturing leaders. The discussions showcased Gujarat’s manufacturing ecosystem, infrastructure, FinTech capabilities and investment opportunities.
The delegation also held one-to-one meetings with senior representatives of Kyndryl, BlackRock and Holtec International. With Kyndryl, discussions included AI strategy, knowledge sharing, student and startup skilling, and mentorship. With BlackRock, the conversation centred on asset management and opportunities associated with GIFT City. With Holtec International, Gujarat explored advanced nuclear manufacturing; public reporting says Holtec expressed interest in potential Small Modular Reactor manufacturing and an R&D centre in Gujarat.
Additional New York meetings involved JPMorgan, Golub Capital, Tillman Global Holdings and Uber. The conversations covered greater financial-sector participation in GIFT City, data-centre opportunities around Dholera, and mobility expansion into Gujarat’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
New York investment roundtable bringing together the Gujarat delegation and business leaders.
Meeting with BlackRock leadership during the New York leg of the mission.
IBM Research: Looking Toward AI, Quantum and Semiconductors
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The delegation’s engagement with IBM Research was another important indicator of Gujarat’s aspirations. Discussions reportedly included artificial intelligence, quantum computing and semiconductor research. For a state historically identified globally with entrepreneurship and manufacturing, engagement with advanced research institutions represents a potentially important shift toward a more knowledge-intensive economy.
Members of the delegation during the visit to IBM Research.
Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das: The Administrative Dimension Behind the Roadshow
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Although Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was naturally the public face of the mission, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das represented an equally important administrative dimension of the delegation.
Das is a 1990-batch Gujarat-cadre IAS officer who assumed charge as Gujarat’s 33rd Chief Secretary on October 31, 2025. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, he holds a B.Tech. in Computer Science. His public-service career has included roles as Collector of Porbandar, Banaskantha and Surat, Municipal Commissioner of Surat and Vadodara, and senior responsibilities in the Industries and Mines, Revenue, Ports and Transport, Panchayat and Rural Development, Home Departments and the Chief Minister’s Office.
That experience is especially relevant to an investment mission of this nature. The Chief Minister can present Gujarat’s vision and open high-level conversations. But once a company seriously considers investing, very practical questions follow: How will land be identified? What infrastructure is available? How quickly can approvals be coordinated? Which departments need to work together? What policies and incentives apply? How will skilled manpower be developed? And how does an expression of interest become an operating project?
Those questions make the role of the Chief Secretary and senior administrative team particularly important. Das participated in major institutional engagements during the tour, including the World Bank interaction, while accompanying the delegation through its broader investment outreach. Following the trip, he said companies had demonstrated interest in Gujarat for areas including manufacturing and R&D, while expressing confidence about significant international participation at Vibrant Gujarat 2027.
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Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel with Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das during the North America visit.
“Economic diplomacy works best when political leadership opens the door and administrative leadership can turn opportunity into execution.”
New Jersey and the Gujarati Diaspora: A Global Bridge
The mission also carried a strong community dimension. At the “Garvi Gujarat Global New Jersey” programme, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel encouraged the Gujarati-American community to contribute to Gujarat’s growth in manufacturing, semiconductors, FinTech and emerging technologies. He also visited BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, recognizing its role in preserving culture, spirituality and community service.With nearly 1,200 members of the Gujarati diaspora reportedly engaged across North America, the visit underscored the diaspora’s importance not only as investors, but as a global network of expertise, mentorship, technology and influence.
Sanand, Dholera and GIFT City: A Larger Strategy
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The roadshow highlighted three pillars of Gujarat’s growth strategy: Sanand for semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Dholera for next-generation infrastructure and data centres, and GIFT City for global finance and FinTech.
Together with AI, R&D, renewable energy, GCCs, water resilience and talent development, Gujarat is positioning itself as a broader ecosystem for technology, manufacturing, finance and innovation.
Toward Vibrant Gujarat 2027
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The outreach is intended to build momentum toward the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027, to be held in Gandhinagar from January 10–12, 2027.
The message to global businesses was clear: Gujarat wants to offer not simply investment opportunities, but an ecosystem where capital, technology, infrastructure and talent can come together at scale.
What Happens After the Handshakes?
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The visit generated considerable visibility and a long list of potentially meaningful conversations. But there is an important distinction between a meeting, an expression of interest, an MoU and an actual operating investment. Not every discussion will necessarily become a project.
The more meaningful questions will emerge over the months ahead: How many companies establish manufacturing or R&D operations? How many financial institutions deepen their presence in GIFT City? Will Dholera attract major data-centre investments? How many semiconductor suppliers build operations around Sanand and Dholera? Will Gujarat’s MSMEs gain meaningful access to global supply chains? How many GCC, water-resilience and clean-energy conversations progress into concrete programmes? And how many of these discussions produce announcements at Vibrant Gujarat 2027?
Those outcomes will ultimately determine the lasting success of the mission.
From “Invest in Gujarat” to “Build With Gujarat”
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Perhaps the strongest message to emerge from the visit is that Gujarat’s international proposition is changing. It is no longer simply: Come and invest in Gujarat. Increasingly, the invitation is: Build here. Research here. Innovate here. Develop talent here. Finance from here. Export from here. And connect Gujarat with the world from here.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel carried that message to some of the world’s leading technology, financial and business institutions. Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Das, together with the senior administrative delegation, represented the government machinery that will be critical if these conversations are to move from conference rooms to projects on the ground.
As Gujarat prepares for Vibrant Gujarat 2027, the roadshow has opened doors. The next—and more important—chapter will be determined by what gets built after those doors open.
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