New York/Washington : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an event packed day Monday, including high-profile meetings with the CEOs of top US companies, before he departs for Washington where he will meet US President Barack Obama in the evening for a quiet dinner at the White House.
The breakfast meeting with 11 CEOs, including of Google, Citigroup and Pepsico, would be followed by one-on-one meetings with six other CEOs of firms like Boeing, IBM, GE and Goldman Sachs.
The morning business engagement is among the most important engagements of Modi in the US and where he is expected to unveil his government’s new mantra of “Come, Make in India” – to seek investment and assure them of a red carpet welcome minus the red tape.
He is also to meet the Clintons – former president Bill Clinton and his wife and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, being touted as a 2016 presidential hopeful.
He departs for Washington in the afternoon. Modi would be staying at the Blair House, across the road from the White House, that is reserved for important state guests.
He has been invited by Obama for a quiet dinner, where the two leaders are expected to discuss ways to reboot flagging bilateral ties. The dinner is expected to help the leader of the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy – Obama and Modi – to strike a rapport that would help in taking forward the strategic ties.
It is not known whether Modi will touch any food at the dinner as he is on a fast on account of the Navratri festival, observed by a lot of Hindus, and is reported to be only on nimbu pani and tea. He has said he has been observing the fast for the past four decades and his system is used to it.
The two sides are also expected to focus on the US’ war on the jihadist group Islamic State and Obama is likely to seek support from India in drawing up an anti-terror alliance of nations. While Modi has said in his UN speech that India supports the war on terrorism in West Asia, he is unlikely to give the material support the US is seeking in terms of airstrikes on IS targets.
The White House said in a statement: “They will also focus on regional issues, including current developments in Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, where India and the United States can work together with partners towards a positive outcome.”
The President looks forward to working with the Prime Minister to fulfill the promise of the US-India strategic partnership for the benefit of both our citizens and the world.”
They will discuss ways to accelerate economic growth, bolster security cooperation, and collaborate in activities that bring long-term benefits to both countries and the world, it said.
On Tuesday, will be the main summit meeting during which both sides would hold official talks on bilateral ties.
During the Monday night dinner at the Blue Room, the other guests are expected to be Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice.
Modi will be accompanied by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Indian Ambassador to the US S. Jaishankar among others.