In a glittering ceremony organized by IBN–7 & Network 18 Media Group in Durbar hall yesterday, Gujarat State was awarded the best Diamond State award for providing core infrastructure facilities in the country. The State was also awarded as the best Diamond State Award along with Kerala and Tamil Nadu. On behalf of the State Government, Shri Bharat Lal, Resident Commissioner of Gujarat Government received both the awards from Vice-President of India Shri M. H. Ansari. To select the best Diamond State, CNN-IBN had appointed an independent agency i.e. Nielsen to collect the primary as well secondary data, which was analysed by the knowledge partner KPMG to enable the independent jury having eminent experts like Shri Bimal Jalan, Chairperson of the Jury and Former RBI Governor; Dr. Bakul H. Dholakia, Former Director IIM-A; Shri T. S. R. Subramaniam, Ex-Cabinet Secretary, GoI; Shri M. Damodaran, former Chairman, SEBI; Shri Shaibal Gupta, Secretary, Asian Development Research Institute to decide as the best States in the country. This committee has rated Gujarat as best State in the country for providing core infrastructure facilities, which is key for socio-economic development and faster inclusive growth. Gujarat is well-known for its double digit economic growth, which is much higher than the national growth rate besides providing excellent infrastructure and basic services to its citizen. The State has excellent road connectivity to all villages, large number of small and large ports well distributed along with 1700 km long coast, 24 hours power supply, State-wide water supply grid, excellent educational institutions, healthcare facilities, marketing yards, State-wide fibre optic network connecting all villages, etc. With best infrastructure in the country, coupled with Good Governance, Gujarat has become the hot destination for investors not only in the country but in this part of world. In the recently concluded Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit–2011, about 36,000 delegates from more than 100 countries participated. In the meet, MoUs for investment of 450 billion US $ were signed. Gujarat has also planned 12 new Special Investment Region (SIRs) in State. To make Gujarat a globally preferred destination to live in and to do business through accelerated, balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth driven by robust social, industrial and physical infrastructure, Chief Minister, Narendra Modi had released the BIG Document - Blueprint for Infrastructure in Gujarat 2020 (BIG 2020). Driven by excellent infrastructure and services and peaceful environ, State has put its economy on faster growth trajectory to ensure best living standard and quality of life to its people. Visit the website of Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board