On the fourth day of his US trip, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets American Chief Executive Officers over breakfast to discuss investments in India and to create more job opportunities.
8:45 pm: Accepting Modi's proposal for investment in India, Investment Management Company BlackRock will be hosting "global investment meet" in India, early in 2015.
In response to PM @narendramodi call for investments, Black Rock to host global investors meet in India, early 2015 pic.twitter.com/T7gc7nRQIK
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 29, 2014
8:03 pm: "CEO of @IBM Virginia Romnetty meets PM @narendramodi. Discusses software for "Smart Cities"& Digital India Initiative," Akbaruddin tweeted.
6:55 pm: Modi holds talks with Boeing CEO James McNerney, who has apparently expressed his willingness to invest in India and wants to arrange meetings, tweeted Ministry of External Affairs' Official Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin.
Boeing wants to accelerate engagement with India - James McNerney, CEO of Boeing to PM @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/ha8r43hM0A
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 29, 2014
6:30 pm: "Want to convert the Supreme Court judgement on coal allocation into an opportunity to move forward & clean up the past," Akbaruddin tweeted Modi as saying.
The meeting is ongoing behind the closed doors; however, Akbaruddin is updating the highlights of the meeting on Twitter.
Modi holds talks with CEOs of top 11 American companies, including Google's Eric Schmidt, Citigroup's Michael Corbat and PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi, and will also talk to Boeing's chief James McNerney along with one-on-one meetings with CEOs of IBM, GE and Goldman Sachs, IANS reported.
Others who will be attending the meeting includes Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga, Cargill's President and CEO David W MacLennan, Caterpillar's Douglas Oberhelman, AES' Andres Gluski, Merck's Kenneth Frazier, co-founder and co-CEO of Carlyle Group David Rubenstein, Hospira's Michael Ball and Warburg Pincus' Charles Kaye, according to reports.
Some of the top companies consider investments in India unfavourable, citing land acquisition as a major roadblock in business deals. However, Modi convinces the top companies into investing in India, reportedly in manufacture and infrastructure sectors.
"India is open-minded. We want change. Change is not one-sided. I am discussing with citizens, industrialists & investors. Infrastructure development is a big opportunity; it creates jobs & enhances quality of life of our citizens," IBNLive quoted Modi as saying.
Modi convinces American CEOs to approach India for more business deals. He is said to raise the "Come, Make in India" strategy during the talks. Earlier this month, he had initiated 'Make in India' campaign.
"Make in India is everyone's responsibility. First develop India, while also making foreign direct investment. We have to touch new highs in the manufacturing sector and give employment to the poor," he had said.
Narendra Modi has presented Indian teas and handmade diaries to the CEOs of the leading US companies.
Inside the signature gift box presented by @narendramodi to CEOs. pic.twitter.com/TUSmkiA8rB
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 29, 2014
Signature gifts for the business community from PM @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/uDWdAxvw5f
— Syed Akbaruddin (@MEAIndia) September 29, 2014