Overview of the State of Gujarat, India

Many Indian people including those from Gujarat live in Hyogo Prefecture and have formed an Indian community. When Gujarat was hit by the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, Hyogo Prefecture implemented the "school project" to support rebuilding of schools in Gujarat with the people’s donations and started exchange. Since then, starting with mutual visits by the leaders, the two regions have developed exchange in a variety of fields, including the acceptance of personnel undergoing training for disaster risk reduction, and youth exchange. Against this background, the “Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation between Hyogo Prefecture and Gujarat, India” was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Abe and Prime Minister Modi on November 12, 2016. The two regions have been promoting further exchange including mutual dispatch of friendship exchange groups led by the regions’ leaders and economic exchange delegations.