New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit saw a high-profile roundtable with leading American tech CEOs, including Sundar Pichai of Google, where India’s ambitious digital and technological goals were at the forefront. Modi emphasized India’s growth prospects and the potential for stronger collaborations across technology, AI, healthcare, and more.
The meeting, held at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel during Modi’s second day in the US, brought together CEOs from top US-based firms specializing in AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors. Sundar Pichai shared insights from the discussion, lauding Modi’s vision for a digitally transformed India. “Prime Minister Modi has been laser-focused on transforming India through Digital India. He challenged us to think about AI’s potential to revolutionize sectors like healthcare, education, and agriculture,” said Pichai.
One of the key takeaways was Google’s commitment to manufacturing in India, with Pichai proudly announcing that the company’s Pixel phones will now be made in India. He also highlighted Google’s robust investment in artificial intelligence within the country. “We’re deeply invested in AI in India and are excited to expand our partnerships. Modi’s vision ensures AI benefits the people of India, and he consistently pushes us to innovate more for India,” Pichai added.
The roundtable, organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) School of Engineering, featured CEOs from Google, Adobe, Accenture, NVIDIA, and others, who all engaged in discussions centered on India’s future as a global technology hub. Prime Minister Modi underscored the importance of initiatives like the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (ICET) as pivotal to the strategic partnership between the two nations. He reiterated India’s commitment to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, urging American firms to harness India’s rapid economic and technological transformation for mutual benefit.
Modi’s message was clear: India is open for business, particularly in the tech and semiconductor sectors. He assured the business leaders of India’s dedication to intellectual property protection and fostering an innovation-friendly ecosystem. The prime minister outlined India’s ambitious BIO E3 policy (Biotechnology for Environment, Economy, and Employment), highlighting the nation’s growing capabilities in biotechnology and its strategic focus on promoting AI for All, with an emphasis on ethical and responsible use.
Among the key attendees, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang praised Modi’s thirst for knowledge, remarking, “Every time I meet him, he’s eager to learn more about technology.” Huang expressed optimism about AI’s role in India’s development, calling it “India’s moment” to leverage AI to democratize computing and transform industries.
The roundtable also saw participation from other notable CEOs, including Shantanu Narayen of Adobe, Julie Sweet of Accenture, Lisa Su of AMD, Arvind Krishna of IBM, Noubar Afeyan of Moderna, and Verizon’s Hans Vestberg, among others. They acknowledged India’s rising prominence as a global tech hub, driven by its conducive policies and booming market. Several CEOs expressed a keen interest in furthering their investments in Indian startups, seeing it as a key opportunity to co-develop cutting-edge technologies.
Modi, in a social media post after the meeting, reflected on the productive discussions, noting, “Had a fruitful roundtable with tech CEOs in New York, discussing technology, innovation, and India’s strides in these fields. I am glad to see immense optimism towards India.”
This engagement further strengthens the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, with technology collaboration at its core. As India continues its journey towards becoming a global leader in tech, the strong interest from American companies underscores the nation’s potential for unprecedented growth in the coming years.
