Dilip Cherian India's 'Image Guru' and a diehard observer of the capital feels Narendra Modi makes for a great marketer 
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I pledge to pitch? Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the India Economic Summit in the city last yearu00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0 PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN</td></tr></tbody></table>The nation may be worried about the global slowdown but not Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi who seldom wastes an opportunity to plug Gujarat's business potential. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit in Ahmedabad is an ideal platform for Modi to woo not just wealthy NRIs with tinges of saffron but also global business. Certainly, by managing to rope in Japan as an international partner to the event, and getting 65 British MPs to pledge their support will be a major boost to Modi's government. Interestingly, the CII, which has had a somewhat strained relationship with the state government in the wake of the Godhra riots, is now an active partner of this time's jamboree.u00a0 The Japanese angle makes special sense since Modi is pushing to encourage investments for the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, which has considerable Japanese funding. With high-powered delegates from 30 nations, the summit may whet Modi's global ambitions, the missing US visa issue notwithstanding. Flying bonanza The ever dynamic Praful Patel may push for foreign equity in Indian airline companies but remember, domestic carriers are expected to post a combined loss of $2 billion this year and the Indian skies are likely to witness even more turbulence. And by prevailing upon them to slash air fares Patel may have made elated air passengers but the carriers are unlikely to see any reversal of fortunes. For the moment, no doubt, Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Air India are hoping to boost passenger traffic, which is hovering below 70 per cent. The 'Big Three' had so far fiercely resisted fare cuts due to the huge outstandings they had accumulated with jet fuel suppliers. Now with the price of aviation turbine fuel returning to the August 2008 level, they could not hold on to the high fares. And with Air India leading the way by slashing fares up to 80 per cent on some routes, the others have no option but to follow suit with their own fare revisions. But will these efforts revitalize the ailing sector remains to be seen. Meanwhile, happyu00a0and hopefully fog-freeu00a0flying, folks!

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Dilip Cherian India's 'Image Guru' and a diehard observer of the capital feels Narendra Modi makes for a great marketer

Beyond Modi's borders

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