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Ahmedabad, February 24, 2026 – Commonwealth Connect Forum of Ahmedabad Veer Savarkar Sports Complex In the ‘Commonwealth Connect Forum’ organized at Ahmedabad, the representatives of the State Government, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, United Kingdom and international sports industry met on one platform and had a comprehensive discussion about the future Commonwealth Games, sports economy and global investment opportunities.

Addressing the Commonwealth Connect Forum 2026 program held in Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibhaben Jain It was said that keeping in mind the 2030 Commonwealth Games, Ahmedabad city is strengthening international cooperation. The delegation led by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom, was warmly welcomed by the citizens of the city.

State Government-AMC-UK delegation discussion on preparations for 2030 Commonwealth Games

He said that, under the guidance of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Ahmedabad is continuously progressing in sports and modern infrastructure. Due to the far-sighted initiatives of Deputy Chief Minister Harshbhai Sanghvi, continuous guidance is being received regarding such programs. Ahmedabad after the General Assembly held in Glasgow in November 2025 commonwealth games It is a matter of pride for the city to be selected.

New avenues of cooperation in sports economy, investment and education opened up.

The Mayor said that the city has proved its global capability by successfully organizing the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest cricket stadium. Modern sports facilities including Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave and Veer Savarkar Sports Complex at Motera have been developed. more electric busesWith metro, strong railway network and airport facilities, the city is being prepared for the Olympic level. He added that the Commonwealth Games is not just a sports festival but a platform connecting the countries of the world in the spirit of “वसुधाइव कुमुत्वकम्”. This international visit will provide new inspiration to the players, coaches and youth of the city and will create new opportunities for cooperation with the global sports world.

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation In the “Commonwealth Connect Forum” organized jointly by (AMC) and India Global Forum, Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, welcoming the dignitaries with the “Atithi Devo Bhava” tradition, said that Ahmedabad, associated with Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, has a unique combination of historical and modern development. He said that Ahmedabad, which is known as a World Heritage City, has been declared the cleanest city in the country in the Swachh Survekshan-2025 and has been ranked among the safest cities due to the safety of women.

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Regarding the sustainable development of Ahmedabad, he said that the city has a Climate Resilient City Action Plan and Ahmedabad is the only city to achieve eight out of nine criteria of the Climate Cities Framework of South Asia. 84 percent of the current AMC budget is allocated for climate resilience initiatives. Regarding urban planning, he added that due to the town planning method started in 1925, today 100 percent area of ​​the city has been covered under planned development and participation of citizens is the main reason for this success.

Referring to the upcoming Commonwealth Games, he said that this is only sports festival No, but it is a platform for creating inspiration and economic opportunities for the youth. Preparations for 2030 will strengthen UK-India cooperation in areas such as smart mobility, sustainable infrastructure, stadium technology, digital governance and legacy planning. Describing sports as a diplomatic bridge, he expressed hope that city-to-city partnerships will give impetus to education, skill development and cultural exchange.

Meeting with the West Midlands delegation

West Midlands Delegation And considering the presence of Vice Chancellors important, he said that since about 80 percent of the educational institutions of Gujarat are located in Ahmedabad, there is huge potential for educational cooperation. Regarding investment opportunities, he mentioned GIFT City and industrial development including semiconductor and expressed hope that this forum will prove to be an important step for long-term cooperation in the field of trade-industry-education.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Connect Forum, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker described the Commonwealth Games 2022 as a transformative moment for the region. He said that the Games were much larger than the Games held in Birmingham. He said that the Games highlighted the industrial heritage, cultural diversity, civic pride and energy of Birmingham and the West Midlands to the world. The event contributed more than £1.2 billion to the UK economy, created more than 22,000 jobs and sold more than 1.5 million tickets. The special thing was that these games were successfully completed on time and at less cost than the estimated budget. He stressed that the true legacy of these games is not limited to numbers only. It has had a long-term impact on community volunteers, young players and increased self-confidence across the region.

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Expressing confidence in the ongoing preparations for 2030 in Ahmedabad, he said that the city’s strong ambitions, infrastructure development and grassroots level sports programs reflect a strong and emerging sporting identity. Commonwealth Games 2030 will be the historic edition to celebrate 100 years of Commonwealth and Ahmedabad has the capacity to organize it successfully. The West Midlands delegation is committed to working with Ahmedabad as a friend and partner. By sharing experiences and lessons learned in 2022, they want to build stronger connections between business, universities, cultural institutions and youth networks.

Referring to the growing partnership and free trade agreement between UK and India, he said that the present time is a positive and historic opportunity for deeper cooperation in the fields of sports, skills development, culture and industry. He concluded by adding that meaningful legacies will be created only through continued dialogue, partnership and joint ambitions in the years till 2030.

Indian Global Forum

Speaking at the Commonwealth Connect Forum, Indian Global Forum Chairman and CEO Manoj Ladwa said that Gujarat is not just preparing for the future, but “rebuilding the future”, placing sports at the center of India’s national rise. Referring to the world’s largest Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium and the world-class sports infrastructure created in Gujarat, he said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, sports is no longer just a recreational activity, but has become a national strategy ranging from grassroots participation to Olympic goals and global standard facilities.

He stressed that Commonwealth Games 2030 is not just an event, but an opportunity to establish Gujarat and India as a self-confident global economic power. Highlighting the economic strength of Gujarat, he said that the state contributes about 8 percent to India’s GDP, 20 percent of the country’s exports and despite having only 5 percent of the population, handles about 40 percent of the cargo traffic. He said that it is necessary to convert the global perspective provided by the Games into systematic and long-term economic benefits.

Long term business partnership between Gujarat and West Midlands

Describing Commonwealth as the least utilized economic platform for India, he expressed the need to move towards “Dialogue to Delivery”. He stressed on structured investment flow, capital management through GIFT City and development of a sustainable player and skill ecosystem. He said that the legacy should not be limited to stadiums alone, but should also extend to human capital development, joint research platforms, training systems for players and long-term business partnerships between Gujarat and West Midlands.

Referring to the growing UK-India partnership and the recent trade agreement, he said that the present times are full of clear and practical opportunities. Sports can be a gateway to infrastructure collaboration, clean energy integration, advanced manufacturing, digital innovation and financial engineering. In the end, he said that organizing the Commonwealth Games should prove to be a driving force for productivity, institutional strength and global confidence. It is necessary to convert the overseas Indian community’s relations into strong economic pathways and convert ambitions into disciplined and measurable actions.

What did West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker say?

Apart from this, in the “From Birmingham 2022 to Ahmedabad 2030” session, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker, Gagan Narang of the Indian Olympic Association, Neil Rami of West Midlands Growth Company and Nilachal Mishra of KPMG expressed their views about the economic-social impact of the Games and the long-term development of the city. Subsequently, in the “International Sports Diplomacy & Soft Power” session, Shivangi Ambani (UK Government), Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, Craig Flindall (Edgbaston Stadium) and David Emba, Vice Chancellor of Birmingham City University, described sports as a powerful tool for global cooperation and international identity of cities.

In the session on Infrastructure and Urban Redevelopment, Samir Sinha (Savvy Group), Shekharbhai Patel (CREDAI), Vijay Tank, COO (E.ON UK) and Ashwinikumar, Principal Secretary, Energy and Petrochemicals Department, explained the need for stadiums, energy, urban development and green infrastructure. In the “Sports Economy of the Future” session, Gujarat Titans’ Arvinder Singh, Prem Singh and Ed Shead discussed the development of new sports formats and league-based models. Subsequently, in “Financing India’s Sporting Ambition”, Prashanth Shanthkumar and Charlie Cowdery explained the opportunities for investment and private partnership in sports.

presence of greats

While in the “Commonwealth Reflections: Backing Champions, Building Legacy” session, Bowling Federation of India’s Ravi Bengani and Para-Badminton champion Mansi Joshi stressed the importance of international level facilities for the players. In the closing remarks, Banchhanidhi Pani, Richard Parker and William Carney expressed hope for a stronger India-UK partnership.

A large number of West Midlands delegation, sports infrastructure, green energy and business leaders from various sectors, Deputy Municipal Commissioners, AMC officials and officials were present in this program.