Ritu Jha–
On the occasion of the historic State visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is hosting a special event for business leaders themed ‘We The People: Celebrating the US-India Partnership’ on Friday, June 23, in Washington, DC.
A reception at the Hall of Nations Terrace (Kennedy Center) will follow the Prime Minister’s address to venture capitalists (VCs), entrepreneurs, and business leaders the first of its kind event after Modi’s Digital India event attended by business leaders at Fairmont in San Jose, California in 2015.
President Biden is scheduled to host Modi at an official State Dinner on June 22, and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have invited him to address a joint session of Congress. Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to address the joint session twice. He had addressed one in 2017.
Modi will lead the International Yoga Day program at the United Nations on June 21 before heading to Washington DC. It is learned that over 1000 business leaders from across the US will attend the event at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a vibrant cultural hub that connects thousands of artists each year.
USISPF is a business advocacy non-profit committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India and is dedicated to strengthening the US-India partnership in Washington, DC, and in New Delhi.
Dr. Mukesh Aghi, president and Chief Executive Officer of USISPF told indica that this occasion holds great significance as this State visit is the first in over a decade by an Indian Prime Minister to the White House.
President Biden has already hosted state visits for the leaders of France and South Korea, making this the third one under his administration.
“The state visit not only symbolizes the crucial nature of the strategic alliance between Washington and New Delhi but also conveys a message that the world’s two largest democracies are most capable of addressing the pressing challenges of the 21st century,” Aghi said, adding that these challenges include issues such as climate change, healthcare, supply chains, and the pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
On the media reports that the US is talking about a fighter jet deal to manufactures engines in India (GE F-414 jet engines) Aghi said that there is a talk on the GE engines deal, and India is looking at the transfer of technology. If this does fructify, India will become the fifth country in the world to manufacture jet engines for aircraft.
What are the top five things Aghi expects the PM to achieve during this visit? Aghi said that the Prime Minister Modi’s government has worked to improve the business environment. So, the prime minister will convey, that India is the best bet for American companies.
The recent examples of the Air India-Boeing deal, and Apple opening its first retail stores in India is a good example of the American multinational betting on India. Prime Minister Modi will also work on sending a strong signal of India’s manufacturing potential and tell the American high-tech multinationals to come and “Make in India”.
“Again the Jet Engines deal will be a big boost to India’s manufacturing and defense capabilities,” Aghi said. “Both Prime Minister Modi and President Biden will realign their priorities towards a free and open Indo-Pacific. Their other focus will be on joint-climate action and rebuilding resilient new supply chains.”
Speaking on the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), announced by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi past May 2022 to elevate and expand strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions of two countries, Aghi said that under iCET, both New Delhi and Washington have identified six areas of cooperation including scientific research and development; quantum and artificial intelligence, defense innovation, space, and advanced telecom which would include items such as 6G and semiconductors.
Under iCET, both countries will share their core technologies, and this will enhance the tech-defense relationship between Washington and New Delhi and bring it to another level.
Modi US visit: USISPF CEO Mukesh Aghi expects big bang deals between New Delhi and Washington
