Gujarat to focus on education in a big way: Modi

AHMEDABAD - After making Gujarat “investor-friendly”, the government’s focus would now be on developing the state’s education sector from the primary to the professional level, Chief Minister Narendra Modi said Monday.

“While the state has achieved investor-friendly status, education is it’s next primary field of concern. The state had nine universities in 2000 and today we have 25,” he added.

The chief minister was speaking at an Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A) conclave organised by the Gujarat government and the institute’s alumni to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

“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 in the same year.

“The contribution of the institute in putting Gujarat on the global map has been remarkable. The members of IIM-A, in the recent past, have actively participated in various developmental projects and we would like to see this relationship going forward,” Modi said.

Maheshwar Sahu, principal secretary (Industry and Mines) said the state was keen to form a coordination committee comprising government and IIM-A officials. The committee would aim to create expert groups to formulate developmental strategies in different sectors, in particular in coastal and port-related development, medical services, urban development, finance, tourism and education.