PM Modi meets American CEOs, pitches investment opportunities in India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday began his engagements in the US with a “productive interaction” with President and CEO of Qualcomm Cristiano E Amon during which he highlighted the vast business opportunities in India.

Modi, who arrived here on Wednesday on an official visit to the US during which he will hold the first face-to-face meeting with President Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris, held a one-on-one meeting with Amon.

“Talking technology… @cristianoamon and PM @narendramodi had a productive interaction. PM Modi highlighted the vast opportunities India offers. Mr. Amon expressed keenness to work with India in areas such as 5G and other @_DigitalIndia efforts,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tweeted.

“It was a great meeting. We’re so proud of a partnership with India.We talked about 5G and its acceleration. We talked about an incredible opportunity to advance the industry not only domestically in India but India as export of technology. We spoke on semiconductors which is an important topic of conversation. We spoke on opportunity to continue to build an incredible mobile ecosystem developing in India. We’re happy with everything we’re doing together with India. I think the approach to driving economic growth in making India a destination for investment has been very successful and we welcome that,” said Amon.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that they discussed recent electronics and telecom manufacturing Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes; and measures to strengthen the innovation ecosystem.

#WATCH “We’re so proud of our partnership with India…We’re happy with everything we’re doing together with India,” says Cristiano R Amon, President & CEO of Qualcomm on his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US pic.twitter.com/XtGyGw55FX

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2021

“Toward making a global innovation hub! PM @narendramodi in conversation with @cristianoamon, CEO @Qualcomm on investment opportunities in hi-tech sectors in India. Discussed recent electronics & telecom manufacturing PLI schemes; & measures to strengthen innovation ecosystem,” he tweeted.

The meeting with chip giant assumes significance, given India’s push for the 5G technology to be safe and secure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a meeting with Vivek Lall, CEO of General Atomics in Washington DC, the US. pic.twitter.com/yc10EW3HYi

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2021

The San Diego-based company creates semiconductors, software, and services related to wireless technology.

A world leader in 3G, 4G, and next-generation wireless technology innovations for more than 30 years, Qualcomm is now pioneering its way to 5G with a new era of intelligent products that are revolutionising industries, including automotive, computing, and Internet of Things (IoT).

India is looking for a major investment from Qualcomm. Ahead of his meeting with the business leaders, Modi had said he would interact with leading CEOs to highlight economic opportunities in India.

PM Modi and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen held discussions over leveraging technology to provide smart education to youngsters, enhance research and the vibrant start-up sector in India, powered by the Indian youth, said PMO.

#WATCH | “For us, our biggest asset is people. Anything that happens with respect to encouraging education, having digital literacy helps Adobe. We’re very supportive of more emphasis&interest in education,” says Shantanu Narayen, Adobe Chairman on NEP after meeting with PM in US pic.twitter.com/FBQX50k4oD

— ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2021

“It’s always been such a pleasure to hear about his vision for how he wants to expand India. Among the key topics we talked about was continued investment in innovation, he said he believes that technology is the way to help move things forward,” said Narayen after the meeting.

“For us, our biggest asset is people. Anything that happens with respect to encouraging education, having digital literacy helps Adobe. We’re very supportive of more emphasis and interest in education,” Narayen added.

PM Modi discussed India’s renewable energy landscape with Mark Widmar, CEO, First Solar. The CEO shared plans to use PLI scheme for manufacturing solar power equipment with unique thin-film technology and integrating India into global supply chains, said Ministry of External Affairs.

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