Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden held a series of high-level meetings with American and Indian technology CEOs during Modi’s four-day visit to the United States. The leaders convened at the White House and later attended a luncheon at the State Department hosted by Vice-President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. As part of his visit, Modi also addressed business leaders at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, emphasizing his “Make in India” initiative.
The meetings between Biden, Modi, and the CEOs aimed to strengthen cooperation on various fronts, including artificial intelligence, semiconductor production, and space exploration. Both leaders emphasized the significance of the “Innovation Handshake” initiative, which seeks to address regulatory challenges hindering collaboration between the two countries and foster job growth in emerging technologies.
During the discussions, President Biden expressed his optimism about the future of technological advancements, stating, “We’re going to see more technological change … in the next 10 years than we’ve seen in the last 50 years.” Modi echoed this sentiment and highlighted the importance of merging talent and technology for a brighter future. He stated, “The coming together of talent and technology guarantees a brighter future.”
Modi had the opportunity to interact with prominent figures in the technology and business world, including Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra, Reliance Industries chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani, and Zerodha & True Beacon co-founder Nikhil Kamath. Modi commended President Biden for recognizing India’s potential and expressed confidence in the future of the bilateral relationship.
At the luncheon hosted by Vice-President Harris and Secretary Blinken, Modi acknowledged the strengthened trust between India and the United States in the field of emerging technologies. He expressed his gratitude to the American leadership for the warm welcome he received during his visit. Modi also took the opportunity to appreciate Vice-President Harris and her family’s connection to India, recounting the story of her mother, Dr. Shyamala Gopalan, who maintained her ties with India despite being thousands of miles away.
In response, Vice-President Harris expressed her appreciation for Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to strengthening US-India ties. She acknowledged the significant contributions of Indian Americans across various sectors in the United States, remarking on their extraordinary impact. Harris also shared her personal connection to India, mentioning her mother’s roots in Chennai and her own deep ties to the country.
Secretary of State Blinken highlighted the indispensable partnership between the United States and India, emphasizing their mutual influence on each other’s cultures. He cited examples such as the popularity of Indian-American comedian Mindy Kaling’s work and the enthusiasm for Indian musician Diljit Dosanjh’s performances at events like Coachella.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States culminated in productive discussions and engagements with American and Indian technology leaders. The meetings underscored the commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in critical areas of innovation and technology. The exchanges between the leaders and CEOs have laid the groundwork for future collaborations, fostering a stronger relationship between India and the United States in the ever-evolving digital age.
