Modi said the government had approached the Centre for setting up an IIT in Gujarat, but nothing came out of it. So the government went ahead and inked a pact with IIT-Mumbai.

The extension centre will offer 100 courses in various technical disciplines. Modi said Gujarat was the ‘SEZ capital’ and growth engine of the country in terms of economic development.

Hence it was necessary that a world-class technical institution was set up in the state for the youth to take part in its development. He said the strong brand image of the IIT would help students in the state secure better-paying jobs.

He said Gujarat had various kinds of industry ranging from petrochemicals, textile and ship-breaking, all of which required skilled professionals.

He said the ship building industry in the state was an emerging sector, adding, that by 2010 it would account for five percent of all ship-building enterprise in the country.

Highlighting the fact that India had the largest youth population in the world, Modi said it was imperative that they were provided enough opportunities to become competent professionals for serving different sectors of the economy.