New York, August 22: Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held crucial meetings with senior officials from Kindred, BlackRock, and Holtec International in New York on Friday. These discussions were part of the state’s outreach program leading up to the ‘Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.’ Topics ranged from artificial intelligence and financial services to nuclear equipment manufacturing.
On the fifth day of his U.S. visit, Patel met with Jerexes Cooper, the Global Head of Delivery at Kindred, one of the world’s largest IT infrastructure service providers. According to the state government, Cooper expressed interest in collaborating with the Gujarat government on AI strategies, information sharing, and skill development programs for startups and students.
Patel highlighted Gujarat’s growing focus on sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, digital infrastructure, AI, data centers, and advanced manufacturing. He also provided insights into the state’s robust industrial and economic landscape, inviting Kindred to participate in the upcoming ‘Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit’ scheduled for January 2027.
Additionally, Patel met with Samara Cohen, Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Development at BlackRock, a global asset management and exchange-traded fund (ETF) company headquartered in New York. Their discussions primarily revolved around asset management and ETF opportunities in India and Gujarat, along with Gujarat International Finance Tec-City’s (GIFT City) potential as a global asset management hub.
Patel informed Cohen about GIFT City’s financial ecosystem and the presence of several U.S.-headquartered fintech companies and banks operating there. He invited BlackRock to expand its services in GIFT City and participate in the upcoming ‘Vibrant Gujarat Summit.’ Established in 1998, BlackRock operates in over 100 countries.
During the meeting, Cohen shared insights into the company’s expertise in asset management, digital investment platforms, risk management, and infrastructure investment.
In another meeting, Patel engaged with the CEO of Holtec International, a company founded in 1986 that provides fuel storage solutions for nuclear power plants. Holtec has already established a precision fabrication facility in Gujarat to meet the demand for air-cooled condensers and has plans to expand this facility by 2025.
The company has also expressed interest in setting up a manufacturing facility for small modular reactors (SMRs) and a research and development center in the state.
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