Pakistani Business Delegates to Attend Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2019

Seven delegations from Pakistan are expected to participate in the summit, making it their largest contingent.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases a publication at the inauguration of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on Tuesday. 

(Photo: PTI)

The Gujarat government courted controversy after it became public that business delegations from Pakistan will attend the biennial ‘Vibrant Gujarat Summit’ (VGS) scheduled to be held between 18-20 January 2019.

According to a report by the Indian Express, at least seven delegations from Pakistan are expected to participate in the summit, making it the largest contingent from the neighbouring country. As it turn out, this is the second time Pakistan has been invited to participate in VGS since 2013.

They will be among the 52 delegations representing commerce and trade bodies from various countries who have confirmed their participation for the Global Conclave of International Chambers, at the VGS.

Apart from Pakistan, delegations from China, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan have also confirmed participation this year.

Pakistani Delegates at VGS 2013

A 22-member delegation from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry came down to Gandhinagar to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Summit 2013 between 12-13 January. They attended the pre-event buyer-seller meet from 1-9 January.

However, the delegation had to cut short their visit after ceasefire violations at Mendhar Sector in Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir killed two Indian soldiers. The Gujarat government cited visa issues as the delegation only had clearance for Ahmedabad and not Gandhinagar, where the event is organised.

Two Vibrant Gujarat Summits were held since 2013 and no delegation from Pakistan had participated in either.

State Govt Remains Silent

While official documents show that Pakistan will be represented by two delegations from Faisalabad, and one each from Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi, Punjab province and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the state government officials refuse to comment on their participation.

However, vice-chairperson and managing director of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), D Thara, told reporters that Pakistani representatives of trade chambers have been invited. “All I want to say on this issue is that most of the chambers are coming for the first time,” Thara said.

Pakistani delegates will be attending the ‘Global Conclave of International Chambers’, organised by the Gujarat government in association with Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

“It’s not just Pakistan, 52 industrial chambers from 45 countries will attend the conclave. We are not concerned where they are coming from. We are looking for business associations as the basic objective of this event is to discuss business policies and best practices.”

Dr Jaimin Vasa, GCCI President