Gujarat seeks World Bank funding as Bhupendra Patel pushes AI rollout

In Washington, Bhupendra Patel asked the World Bank to back Gujarat's AI expansion and projects. The pitch linked concessional funding to the state's fiscal discipline and GIFT City ambitions.

In Short

• Patel said Gujarat plans rapid AI deployment in governance and public services
• He highlighted education, healthcare and agriculture as priority sectors for adoption
• The chief minister cited Gujarat's fiscal discipline while seeking cheaper project financing

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said in Washington on Wednesday that his government is ready to adopt artificial intelligence across sectors and sought concessional funding from the World Bank, citing the fiscal discipline followed by the state. During his day-long visit, he also met members of the Gujarati diaspora, attended a luncheon hosted by India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra and visited the Art of Living centre.

Addressing a roundtable at the World Bank, Patel said Gujarat wanted a faster rollout of AI in administration, education, healthcare and agriculture. He also urged the World Bank to consider financing projects in Gujarat and called for the institution to establish a presence in GIFT City, the International Financial Services Centre in the state.

“The Gujarat government has decided to embrace AI and we are looking forward to a faster rollout in sectors such as administration, education, healthcare and agriculture,” he said at the roundtable.

Patel said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had instilled financial discipline in Gujarat and urged World Bank officials to explore financing projects in the state. “The World Bank can consider extending benefits in financing projects for states adhering to fiscal discipline,” he said at the session chaired by Indermit Gill, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist of the World Bank Group.

The roundtable was attended by Gujarat Chief Secretary M K Das, GIFT City Managing Director and Group CEO Sanjay Kaul, World Bank Vice President for South Asia Johannes Zutt, IFC Regional Vice-President for Asia and the Pacific Riccardo Puliti, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency Vice-President Junaid Kamal Ahmad, IMF Asia and Pacific Department Director Krishna Srinivasan, and Hemang Jani, senior adviser to the World Bank Executive Director representing India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

Later, Kwatra hosted the chief minister at his official residence. In a social media post, he said, “Honoured to host Hon'ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel and members of the Gujarati diaspora at India House.” He added, “The interaction focused on the state's effort to attract global partnerships in manufacturing and technological sectors and strengthening of ties with the diaspora.”

Patel also visited the Art of Living centre in Washington and praised the organisation’s efforts to take India’s traditions of meditation and yoga to communities across the United States. Bhushan Deodhar, from the Office of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Director of the Art of Living Centre in Washington, DC, said, “It was an honour to host Bhupendrabhai Patel at the Art of Living Centre in Washington, DC. We wish him continued success in his efforts to serve the people of Gujarat and advance the state's vision of a healthier and more resilient society.”

The chief minister began his US visit on Monday in San Francisco, where he met leaders of technology companies, including Google, Micron and Perplexity AI. He is scheduled to visit New York over the next two days to meet business leaders, rounding off a trip focused on technology, investment and outreach.

With PTI Inputs

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