Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently met with top tech executives in the United States to discuss strengthening tech ties between the two countries. The meeting took place in New York following Modi’s attendance at the annual Quad summit with the US, Australia, and Japan.
During the meeting, Modi encouraged tech companies to consider India as a destination for manufacturing and innovation. This move comes as India aims to position itself as an alternative to China for global firms looking to diversify their supply chains. While India has been focusing on semiconductor manufacturing in recent years, it still lags behind major suppliers like China and Taiwan.
The roundtable meeting with tech CEOs included prominent figures such as Sundar Pichai from Google, Shantanu Narayen from Adobe, Arvind Krishna from IBM, and Jensen Huang from NVIDIA. Modi emphasized the potential for collaboration, stating that companies can co-develop, co-design, and co-produce in India for the global market.
In addition to discussing technology innovations, Modi also addressed a rally of Indian-Americans in New York, highlighting India’s role in global development, peace, climate action, innovation, and supply chains. The Prime Minister’s visit to the US coincided with a meeting with President Joe Biden, where both countries signed agreements, including a semiconductor pact.
The semiconductor agreement between India and the US aims to establish a fabrication plant that will produce chips for national security, next-generation telecommunications, and green energy applications. This partnership marks India’s first such project with the US, focusing on enhancing resilience against China’s semiconductor industry.
While the joint statement released by Modi and Biden did not address ongoing tensions related to Sikh leaders in the US and Canada, the focus was on maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. The Quad leaders expressed opposition to destabilizing actions and coercion, emphasizing the importance of a region where no country dominates.
Analysts noted that the joint statement, while not directly naming China, contained stronger language regarding provocations in the South China Sea. This reflects the growing concerns among Quad states about escalating Chinese activities in the region. The partners also announced initiatives to expand maritime surveillance, establish a pilot logistics network for natural disasters, and combat cervical cancer.
Overall, Modi’s visit to the US and the discussions with tech leaders and government officials signal a significant step towards enhancing India-US tech ties and strategic partnerships in various sectors. The semiconductor pact and joint commitments made during the Quad summit underscore the shared interests and priorities of the participating countries in promoting regional security and cooperation.