Elon Musk Highlights Growing India-US Ties and Calls for Enhanced Trade Partnership

Featured & Cover Elon Musk Highlights Growing India US Ties and Calls for Enhanced Trade Partnership

At SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, Elon Musk shared his optimism about the evolving relationship between India and the United States. Addressing a delegation of prominent Indian business leaders on Friday, the tech billionaire said he sees positive momentum in India-US ties and supports the idea of reducing trade barriers to boost economic cooperation between the two nations.

“Things are trending positive. I’m certainly in favour of lowering trade barriers to increase commerce between the US and India,” Musk remarked during the moderated session.

The delegation, organized by the India Global Forum (IGF) to mark its expansion into the United States, had an exclusive tour of SpaceX’s advanced space exploration facilities. They also witnessed the successful launch of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7. IGF, a UK-headquartered platform known for fostering policy dialogue and events, used the opportunity to emphasize collaboration between India and global innovators.

Musk, who is also the force behind Tesla and social media platform X, discussed the immense potential for cooperation in technology and space exploration between the two countries. He referred to India as “one of the ancient civilisations and a very great and very complex one,” showcasing his admiration for its rich history and innovation potential. The conversation highlighted India’s increasing influence on the global technology landscape and the potential for mutual growth through stronger ties with the United States.

The delegation comprised notable Indian business leaders, including Prashant Ruia of Essar Capital, Jay Kotak of Kotak811, Ritesh Agarwal of OYO, Kalyan Raman of Flipkart, Aryaman Birla of the Aditya Birla Group, and Amish Tripathi, a bestselling author. Together, they engaged in discussions that explored how India and the US can collaborate to drive innovation and tackle global challenges.

“This event underscores the growing importance of collaboration between India and global pioneers in shaping a sustainable and technology-driven future,” said Manoj Ladwa, Founder of the India Global Forum. He emphasized the value of meaningful dialogue during what he described as “challenging times” as the world’s largest democracy transitions to a Trump presidency.

The visit to Musk’s Texas facility was part of IGF’s broader initiative to expand its influence in the United States. A day earlier, the group held closed-door discussions with members of the incoming Trump administration and key policymakers, including Jacob Helberg, the Designated Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. These meetings focused on the American economic landscape, particularly in areas such as digital infrastructure, technology, innovation, and foreign investment.

Reflecting on the mission of IGF, Ladwa said, “At India Global Forum, our mission is to bring together global leaders and innovators to tackle the defining challenges of our time… I believe India’s rise presents limitless opportunities, and this meeting signifies the potential for powerful partnerships.”

The dialogue also addressed ways to strengthen bilateral collaboration and explored opportunities for India and the US to jointly drive advancements in technology and sustainable development.

The meeting between Musk and Indian entrepreneurs occurred just days before Donald Trump’s inauguration for his second term as US President. Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration has also been in the spotlight, as he is expected to take on a significant role as co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

For the Indian delegation, the event highlighted the importance of partnerships with global leaders like Musk, who are at the forefront of technological and space innovation. It also emphasized the potential for India to play a greater role in shaping the global innovation landscape.

As India continues to rise as an economic powerhouse, the collaboration between the two democracies holds the promise of driving growth and addressing shared global challenges. This visit to SpaceX not only symbolized India’s growing footprint in the technology sector but also reinforced the importance of fostering partnerships that could lead to transformative advancements in space exploration, digital infrastructure, and beyond.

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