Narendra Modi on Elon Musk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi views Elon Musk as a significant figure for potential collaboration in technology and innovation, building on in-person meetings and subsequent phone calls. Modi has expressed India's commitment to advancing partnerships with the US in these domains, aligning with the interests of Musk's companies like Tesla and Starlink in the Indian market.
The relationship appears constructive, marked by discussions that have touched upon space, mobility, artificial intelligence, and good governance. The Indian government is actively engaging with Musk's entities regarding market entry, while Modi himself has personally interacted with Elon Musk on multiple occasions, including a high-profile meeting in Washington D.C.
While Modi's administration actively seeks investment and technological partnership, the actualisation of these goals is also dependent on regulatory progress, particularly for Starlink's satellite internet services. The overall stance reflects a pragmatic desire to leverage Musk's global business interests for India's domestic technological and economic advancement.
Context
The interest in Narendra Modi's relationship with Elon Musk stems from the growing aspirations of Musk’s companies, Tesla and Starlink, to enter or expand their operations significantly within the Indian market. Tesla has been in talks regarding setting up a manufacturing base, while Starlink has been seeking regulatory authorization for satellite internet services.
Modi’s government promotes initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Digital India', making engagement with major global technology figures like Musk a priority for attracting foreign direct investment and bolstering India's status as a technology hub.
Timeline
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Elon Musk in Washington D.C. during his US visit.
- The two leaders spoke via phone, following up on their in-person discussion and the ongoing interest of Musk's companies in India.
Actions Taken
- Bilateral meetingMet with Elon Musk in Washington D.C. to discuss collaboration in innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.
- Diplomatic callSpoke with Elon Musk via phone call to follow up on the D.C. meeting and discuss technology collaboration potential.
- Diplomatic gestureReportedly gifted Musk's children books, including works by Rabindranath Tagore and Panchatantra, during their Washington D.C. meeting.
Key Quotes
Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains.
Had a very good meeting with Elon Musk in Washington DC. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about such as space, mobility, technology and innovation. I talked about India's efforts towards reform and furthering 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance'.
Sources4
PM Modi speaks to Elon Musk, discusses 'potential collaboration in technology'
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.