Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], August 22 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held one-to-one meetings with leaders from various sectors in New York on the fifth day of his US visit ahead of Vibrant Summit 2027. As part of these meetings, he held discussions with Xerxes Cooper, Global Head of Delivery, Kyndryl, one of the world's largest IT infrastructure service providers.
According to a press release from the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office, during the meeting, Xerxes Cooper, Global Head of Delivery, Kyndryl, expressed interest in collaborating with the State Government on AI strategies, skilling and knowledge-sharing for students and startups, and mentorship.
CM highlighted that Gujarat is emerging as a preferred investment destination for next-generation sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, digital infrastructure, AI, data centres and advanced manufacturing.
He also briefed the Global Head of Delivery, Kyndryl, on Gujarat's role as a growth engine and production hub across various sectors. CM extended an invitation to participate in the Vibrant Summit to be held in January 2027, the release said.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also held a one-to-one meeting with Samara Cohen, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Development at BlackRock, a global leader in asset management and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
The press release further stated that BlackRock, headquartered in New York and established in 1998, operates in more than 100 countries. Samara Cohen briefed CM on BlackRock's expertise in asset management, digital investment platforms, risk management and infrastructure investment, making it a potential partner for India's growing economy.
CM held detailed discussions on GIFT City in Gujarat, established under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and its world-class financial ecosystem as an international Fintech hub. He also highlighted the presence of several US-headquartered Fintech companies and banks operating from GIFT City.
Highlighting GIFT City's potential to become a global hub for ETFs and asset management, the Chief Minister invited BlackRock to expand its services in GIFT City and participate in the upcoming Vibrant Summit.
As part of his one-to-one meetings, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also met with the CEO of Holtec International. Established in South Jersey in 1986, Holtec International primarily provides fuel storage solutions for nuclear power plants.
The press release added that Holtec has established a precision fabrication facility in Gujarat to meet the growing demand for air-cooled condensers and expand the facility in 2025. The company has also expressed interest in setting up a manufacturing facility for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and a research and development centre in Gujarat.
CM outlined to Holtec during the meeting that the State Government has identified nuclear power equipment, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as a thrust area under the recently announced Industrial Policy-2026, the release stated.
The meeting also included discussions on how Holtec International's partnership with Gujarat could further strengthen the State's nuclear technology and production ecosystem. Chief Secretary MK Das and senior secretaries from the Gujarat delegation were present at the one-to-one meetings. (ANI)
Ahead of Vibrant Summit 2027: Gujarat CM meets global business leaders in New York to drive investments in AI, fintech, and nuclear energy
