Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi participated in a community yoga session in Glasgow on Friday, 31 July, joining Scottish residents and members of the Indian diaspora in an early morning gathering that underscored India's cultural diplomacy on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Games. The session, conducted without official protocol, featured yoga asanas and pranayama, drawing participants from both the local community and the Indian community abroad.

Yoga as Cultural Bridge

Addressing participants after the session, Sanghavi described yoga as India's most enduring soft-power export. 'Yoga is India's unique and invaluable gift to the world, harmonising physical well-being and mental peace,' he said. He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi with elevating yoga's global profile. 'The Prime Minister has taken yoga to the global stage,' Sanghavi added. According to the state government, the joint participation of Scottish residents and diaspora members reflected the cultural ties and spirit of friendship between India and Scotland.

Scotland-India Business Forum

Beyond the yoga mat, Sanghavi engaged with industry stakeholders at the Scotland-India Business Forum, where discussions centred on trade relations, industrial partnerships, and investment opportunities between the two regions. He highlighted Gujarat's business-friendly ecosystem and extended a formal invitation to industry leaders to explore investment prospects in the state. Gujarat has increasingly positioned itself as a gateway for foreign investment, backed by successive editions of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.

Promoting Ahmedabad Ahead of 2030 Commonwealth Games

Sanghavi also promoted the Ahmedabad Experience Centre in Glasgow, set up to introduce visitors to Ahmedabad — the host city of the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The centre offers a curated preview of Ahmedabad's culture, heritage, cuisine, and identity. Inviting locals and visitors to explore the centre, Sanghavi said Gujarat looks forward to welcoming the world to Ahmedabad in 2030. This is part of a broader pre-Games outreach strategy by the Gujarat government to build international awareness ahead of the event.

Neeraj Chopra Qualifier Meeting

On the sporting front, Sanghavi met Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra before his qualification round at the Commonwealth Games. After Chopra secured his place in the final, the Deputy Chief Minister congratulated him and expressed hope that he would return with the gold medal. Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, is among India's most closely watched athletes at the Games.