The Hindu : National : Uganda, Kenya keen to adopt Gujarat model

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Uganda, Kenya keen to adopt Gujarat model

Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD: A high-level delegation from Gujarat led by Chief Minister Narendra Modi returned from a four-day visit to Uganda and Kenya on Friday, promising assistance to the East African countries for their development.

State Chief Secretary D. Rajagopalan and others in the 20-member delegation, which included chief executives of over a dozen industrial houses, said the warmth with which the top political leaders of the two countries received them and Mr. Modi was “unprecedented.”

The Indians, particularly the Gujaratis settled there, were “visibly proud” at the rapid strides by Gujarat, Mr. Rajagopalan said. He claimed that the governments of Uganda and Kenya were “extremely impressed” with the development process adopted by Gujarat and expressed their keen desire to replicate it.

Mr. Modi promised to send a delegation of officials to Kenya to help frame laws to ensure private-public partnership, a highly successful effort in the State, for infrastructure and other developmental measures.

The delegation had meetings with Ugandan president Yoweri Musheveni and the first lady, Jenet Musheveni, Vice-President of Kenya Stephen Alaonzo Mushiyoka, the Prime Ministers of the two countries and their Ministers. The road shows organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) helped the Ugandan and Kenyan leaders to understand the methods adopted by Gujarat for development.

“The visit has helped us prepare a road map for cooperation among Gujarat, Uganda and Kenya for development replicating the Gujarat process,” Mr. Rajagopalan said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National