Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Heads to Washington After San Francisco Tech Meetings
San Francisco — Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday concluded the San Francisco leg of his U.S. visit and departed for Washington, D.C., as the state continues its international outreach ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.
Before leaving San Francisco, Patel and members of the Gujarat delegation visited the Consulate General of India, where they were received by Consul General Dr. K. Srikar Reddy.
The visit capped several days of meetings in the San Francisco Bay Area with members of the Gujarati diaspora and leaders from the technology and investment sectors.
Patel began his U.S. visit in San Francisco on Aug. 17, highlighting Gujarat’s economic development and its plans to expand in emerging industries. The state government said the trip is aimed at attracting investment and strengthening international partnerships ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, scheduled for January 2027.
During the second day of the visit, Patel and the delegation held roundtable discussions and one-on-one meetings with more than 100 leaders from the semiconductor and technology industries, along with representatives from artificial intelligence, DeepTech, EdTech, HealthTech and gaming.
The discussions focused on investment, research, innovation, workforce development and potential business partnerships.
Patel urged global companies to view Gujarat not only as an investment destination but also as a long-term partner for technology development, innovation and supply-chain expansion. He also invited industry leaders to participate in Vibrant Gujarat 2027 and explore business-to-business and business-to-government opportunities.
“The success of a next-generation technology hub will depend not only on innovation but also on the ability to provide all facilities such as land, electricity, connectivity, capital, talent and policy stability together. Gujarat is ready to provide all of this and facilitate technology-led investment,” Patel said.
The meetings also covered generative AI, robotics, large language models, education technology, healthcare technology and gaming, including potential applications in Gujarat.
Gaming discussions included opportunities connected to the Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in the state and efforts to develop a supporting ecosystem through policy, innovation and industry participation.
Gujarat has been working to position itself as a major destination for semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced technologies, promoting its infrastructure, industrial base and policy environment to international investors.
The delegation will continue its U.S. engagements in Washington, followed by planned meetings in New York before traveling to Toronto. The itinerary includes roundtable conferences and meetings with investors, emerging technology leaders and members of the Gujarati community.
Chief Secretary M.K. Das, Additional Chief Secretary for Industries and Mines Mamta Verma and other senior state officials are accompanying Patel on the overseas visit. Das and Verma also addressed meetings in San Francisco, outlining Gujarat’s economic development, previous editions of the Vibrant Gujarat summit and preparations for the 2027 event. (Source: IANS)
