Gujarat hardsells investors’ meet on US newspaper sites

The Gujarat government seems to be hard selling the sixth edition of 'Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit' to audiences in the US. It has drawn up an elaborate media strategy for the event slated for January 2013, and started posting banner advertisements on the websites of dailies like Washington Post and Wall Street Journal.

The government is also planning to run Vibrant Gujarat advertisements on Facebook, MSN, Yahoo and Google and has developed a mobile and iPad application for the bi-annual event that focuses on attracting corporate investments to the state.

"This year, as a part of media planning, we are focussing on Internet websites like Facebook, MSN, Google and others. This was decided after planning of more than a year. Keeping the requirements in mind, for media planning around Rs 5 crore has been kept as the estimated budget," Principal Secretary, Industries, Maheshwar Sahu told The Indian Express .

"Welcome to Vibrant Gujarat, the global business hub" — the 20 second ad has CM Narendra Modi inviting investors to a state "emerging as a globally preferred place to live and do business". It features prominently on the newspapers' websites.

"Apart from latest updates on this event, the official website of the event is also offering services like mobile and tablet application, online brochure, registration for the event, enquiry forms and international help desks," said Mukesh Kumar, managing director of iNDEXTb (Industrial Extension Bureau), a state body which is handling the event.

Sahu is upbeat with the campaign. "The response is far better than previous events. We have more than a lakh hits on the official website. We have recently started online registration for the event that will help us track interested investors."

Congress disapproves of MP's Modi praise

NEW DELHI: The Congress Wednesday disapproved MP Vijay Darda's remarks purportedly praising CM Narendra Modi. "One should desist from making political comments at religious functions. Politicisation of religious functions is also not proper in any way," said Mohan Prakash, in charge of Congress affairs in Gujarat.

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