New Jersey [US], August 23 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, on the seventh day of his US visit, visited BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Jersey.

According to the CMO, at Akshardham, a centre of spirituality and culture, the Chief Minister was warmly welcomed by BAPS saints.

During his visit, CM visited the Akshardham complex and lauded its rich representation of Indian culture, spiritual traditions, and service to society.

He also appreciated the efforts of the Gujarati and Indian communities in preserving Indian culture and values abroad.

Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel is currently on a week-long visit to the United States and Canada with a high-level Gujarat delegation. The visit is part of the state's efforts to strengthen global partnerships and attract foreign investment across key sectors ahead of the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027, a release said.

The Chief Minister, along with the high-level delegation, will arrive in Toronto, Canada, today

During the first leg of the visit, the Chief Minister travelled to San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York, where he met with leading industry representatives and visited prominent institutions to explore opportunities for collaboration, investment, and partnerships in Gujarat.

The Toronto visit will focus on fostering greater economic cooperation between Canada and Gujarat. Through a series of meetings, roundtables and interactions, the Chief Minister will present Gujarat's growing economic potential and explore avenues for partnerships across diverse sectors.

On August 23, the Chief Minister will receive a traditional welcome at the Toronto airport from the Consulate General of India (CGI) and members of the Gujarati diaspora. He will then interact with members of the Gujarati diaspora and attend a reception hosted by the Federation of Gujarat (FOG) & CGI Office, the release said.

On August 24, the Chief Minister will lead a roundtable with members of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), bringing together entrepreneurs and startup representatives. The interaction will provide a platform to discuss Gujarat's expanding startup ecosystem. The CM will then meet Goldy Hyder, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Business Council of Canada. He will also participate in a GSFC roundtable with the Regional Director for Ontario and representatives, Mohit Bhatia, Vice President, EDC; Karen Hung and Danielle, CEO, KRN, along with Christi, CFO, KRN.

The Chief Minister will also hold a series of meetings with leaders of prominent businesses and institutional leaders, including Sanjeev Gill, AVP, Innovation, University of Waterloo; Mark Selby, CEO, Canada Nickel Co.; Mike Steffeck and Martin Bloomberg, HGS Bioscience; Peter Clarke and Chandra Ramaswamy, Fairfax; and James Prescott, Canadian Tyres. Through these engagements, the Chief Minister will explore opportunities for collaboration, investment and partnerships with Gujarat.

Concluding his visit to Toronto, the Chief Minister will visit Niagara Falls, one of Canada's most prominent landmarks, before departing for Dubai on August 25. (ANI)