Gujarat will be a solar capital: Modi

Lauding the industrious way in which the state has grown despite lack of raw materials, Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat stated on Monday that the state will soon become a capital for solar energy.

Speaking at the IIM Conclave, Modi said, "Gujarat has had a white revolution through the Amul model and a green revolution through achievement of a 9.6 per cent agricultural growth.

"The state is now moving towards saffron revolution in energy.

"Apart from making a mark in nuclear, wind, hydro and thermal energy, among others, Gujarat will soon become the world capital in solar energy."

As a run-up for the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit 2011 in January, the IIM Conclave was organised by government of Gujarat in association with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad alumni association.

"While the state has achieved 'investor-friendly' status, one of our main focuses in the next period will be to develop the education sector from primary level to professional level. Gujarat had 9 universities in 2000 and today we have 25 universities present across the state," said Modi.

"I congratulate IIM-A on its completion of 50 years. It's a joyous moment for both Gujarat and the institute to celebrate golden anniversaries the same year. The contribution of the institute in putting Gujarat on the global map has been remarkable", he added.

The members of IIM-A, in recent past have actively participated in various developmental projects and we would like to foster this relationship going forward." Maheshwar Sahu, principal secretary, industry and mines, government of Gujarat said that the state was keen to form a coordination committee jointly comprising of government and IIM-A officials.