PM’S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Highlights of PM Modi's visit to USA
Highlights of PM Modi's visit to USA
PM’s Address at the UN on SDG
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the United Nations Summit for the adoption of the post-2015 Development Agenda. In an elaborate address, the Prime Minister touched on key global economic, social and environmental issues. He emphasised on the need to mitigate poverty, stating that the removal of poverty is essential to ensure a peaceful, sustainable and just world. He quoted Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s guiding principle of placing the poorest of the poor at the centre of governance and policy making.
The Prime Minister elaborated on his idea of empowering the ‘Personal Sector’, which was in addition to the public and private sector. He stated that at the heart of the personal sector is individual enterprise, which was receiving an impetus due to the various schemes of the Government of India such as the MUDRA Bank.
He said that care and concern for Mother Nature is an integral part of the Indian culture and stressed on India’s commitment and contribution towards making the planet cleaner, greener and the development process more sustainable. The Prime Minister pointed that in addition to climate change, the focus must also be on climate justice and becoming more sensitive about the concerns of the poor and the downtrodden.
During his speech the Prime Minister talked about the need to reform the UN at a moment when the body completes seventy years. Shri Modi’s speech was widely appreciated by people in India and overseas. Moments after his speech the PM of Bhutan, Mr. Tshering Tobgay Tweeted his appreciation of the PM’s speech:
PM addresses the UN
G-4 Summit
At the UN, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hosted a historic G-4 Summit attended by President Rousseff of Brazil, Chancellor Merkel of Germany and PM Abe of Japan. The four leaders deliberated on the reforms of the United Nations, particularly the expansion of the United Nations Security Council.
Here are key quotes from the Joint Statement by the G-4 leaders:
“The G-4 leaders stressed that a more representative, legitimate and effective Security Council is needed more than ever to address the global conflicts and crises, which had spiraled in recent years.”
“They strongly emphasized that the process underway in the UN to bring about the reform of the Security Council should be conducted, given its urgency, in a fixed time frame.”
“The leaders also noted with appreciation the efforts of Member States in moving towards text-based negotiations.”
“They supported Africa’s representation in both the permanent and non-permanent membership in the Security Council. They also noted the importance of adequate and continuing representation of small and medium sized Member States, including the Small Island Developing States, in an expanded and reformed Council.”
“The leaders emphasized that the G-4 countries are legitimate candidates for permanent membership in an expanded and reformed Council and supported each other’s candidature.”
PM Modi's opening remarks at G-4 Summit in New York
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in his own remarks expressed disappointment over the fact that there has been little progress on UNSC reforms despite the widespread global attention the issue received. He highlighted the view that the global scenario is very different from what it was when the UN was born seventy years ago, this making the need of UNSC reforms even more urgent. He welcomed a discussion text-based negotiation on the subject and congratulated the President of the UN General Assembly Mr. Sam Kutesa for his proactive efforts.
President Rousseff Tweeted on the Summit:
Peace-Keeping Conference
At the UN, Shri Modi joined a USA-hosted confernce on Peace-Keeping. Shri Modi’s speech focussed on the importance of world peace and why a peaceful world is important for the entire humanity. He shed light on India’s very rich contribution to peacekeeping and India’s commitment to continue supporting peacekeeping operations across the world. He said that peacekeeping countries need to have a greater say in the decision making process and greater represenation in the senior management as force commanders. He paid rich tributes to all those peacekeepers who have lost their lives in their quest to make the world more peaceful.
PM’s address on peacekeeping
“India’s commitment to UN Peacekeeping remains strong and will grow.”
Meeting with Secretary General
PM Shri Narendra Modi and Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon had a very fruitful meeting. The two leaders discussed a wide range of global issues.
CEO’s Dinner
CEOs of several Fortune 500 companies met PM Narendra Modi over dinner in New York. During the dinner meeting the Prime Minister and the leading CEOs had extensive discussions on investment climate in India. Shri Modi urged the investors to come and invest in India and make use of the many opportunities India has to offer.
Financial Sector Roundtable
The Financial Sector Roundtable was the first public engagement of the Prime Minister during the entire USA visit. Beginning the programmes with Wall Street, Shri Narendra Modi listed out the steps taken the the Government of India in the last fifteen months to improve investment and accelerate reform in India. He also urged financial sector CEOs to invest in India’s growing start-up sector.
The CEOs expressed their views of the global and Indian economic scenario and articulated some concerns, which the Prime Minister assured would be looked into.
Roundtable on Media,
Communications and Technology
CEOs of top media companies had a meeting with the Prime Minister in New York. The roundtable was characterised by a healthy exchange of views on the media, with the Prime Minister sharing his thoughts on the Digital India initiative and the digital transformation being achieved through it. The CEOs appreciated the steps of the government and called for speeding of the cellular infrastructure.
Shri Modi pointed that India’s diversity and the presence of many languages provide a major opportunity for the media and entertainment industry.
Mr. Ajay Banga,
Mastercard
Ms. Marillyn Hewson,
Lockheed Martin
Mr. Mike Burke,
AECOM
Digital India Dinner
The Digital India dinner in San Jose was the ideal gathering for PM Modi to share his vision for a Digital India and also expand on the efforts of the Government of India to create a digitally empowered and digitally connected society. Sharing stage with the who’s who of the digital world, the Prime Minister made an impactful speech that is widely remembered for the clarity of thought and the vision shared to make the dream of Digital India into a reality.
Here are some quotes from the speech:
“These (social media) are the new neighborhoods of our new world. If Facebook were a country, it would be the third most populous one and the most connected. Google today has made teachers less awe-inspiring and grandparents more idle. Twitter has turned everyone into a reporter. The traffic lights that need to work the best are on CISCO routers.”
“The pace at which people are taking to digital technology defies our stereotypes of age, education, language and income.”
“There may be still some who see the digital economy as the tool of the rich, educated and the privileged. But, ask the taxi driver or the corner vendor in India what he has gained from his cell phone, and the debate gets settled.”
“I see technology as a means to empower and as a tool that bridges the distance between hope and opportunity. Social media is reducing social barriers. It connects people on the strength of human values, not identities.”
“We will transform governance, making it more transparent, accountable, accessible and participative.”
“From large corporate to young professionals in this great centre of innovation, each can be part of the Digital India story. The sustainable development of one-sixth of humanity will be a major force of good for our world and our planet.”
PM Modi's address at the Digital India Dinner
in San Jose, California
Start up India, Stand up India:
PM at India-US Start-up Konnect
India has emerged as a major hub for strart-up industries. Young innovators are full of new and innovaitve ideas that have made a strong impact all over India and the world. Prime Minister Modi has placed great emphasis on start-ups and envisions an India that is a hub of the start-up culture. In San Jose he attend the India-US Start-up Konnect, where Indian start-ups showcased their innovations and interacted with American start-ups.
Here are five quotes from the Prime Minister’s speech at India-US Start-up Konnect:
“The idea of Start Ups is as ancient as this world. Each economic age has been defined by disruption of the previous one, by the evolution of ideas and products that displace the old ones.”
“Start Ups have always been the engine of progress. The mega corporations of today were Start-ups of yesterday. What is different now is that the digital age has created a fertile new environment for Startups.”
“I see Startups, technology and innovation as exciting and effective instruments for India’s transformation, and for creating jobs for our youth. We are a nation of 800 million youth below the age of 35 years. They are eager for change; have the energy and drive to pursue it; and, the confidence to achieve it.”
“India’s own ecosystem of startups is evolving rapidly. It is driven by the energy, enterprise and innovation of our youth. We have a huge market with rapid growth and untapped opportunities in every sector.”
“Our Startups represent not just commercial success stories, but are powerful examples of social innovation.”
“I see Startups, not as short term investments, but as long term commitments.”
PM Modi’s speech at the India-US Start-Up Konnect 2015
in San Jose.
Facebook Townhall
PM Narendra Modi has been a firm believer in social media and has used it to extensively reach out to people across India and the world. He has used social media to gather inputs and thoughts of netizens on various important issues. Thus, it was no surpise when Shri Narendra Modi visited the Facebook HQ and participated in a Townhall Q&A with Mr. Mark Zuckerberg. PM Modi, Mr. Zuckerberg and millions of people around the world changed their Facebook display pictures to support the Government of India’s ‘Digital India’ initiative. Shri Modi answered questions on many issues ranging from the Government’s thrust on reforms to memories of his parents.
Townhall Q&A at Facebook HQ - Hindi
Townhall Q&A at Facebook HQ - English
Mr. Mark Zuckerberg posted:
Facebook COO, Ms. Sheryl Sandberg shared on her Facebook page:
Visit to Google
The Prime Minister visited the Google Headquarters, where he was received by Mr. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google. He was given an overview of some of Google’s innovations and future plans. Mr. Eric Schmidt and Mr. Larry Page were present. During a demonstration of Google Streetview, the Prime Minister asked for Khagaul to be pinpointed on Google Earth. Khagaul near Patna is where the great ancient astronomer Aryabhatta had an observatory.
Call on by Tim Cook,
CEO Apple
Meeting Tech
CEOs
Meeting Salman Khan
of Khan Academy
Drop in by
Bill Gates
Visit to TESLA Motors
Shri Narendra Modi visited Tesla Motors, where he was given a tour of the facility by Mr. Elon Musk. The two discussed energy and how battery technology can help in agriculture.
Roundtable on Energy Security
Energy security was a major focus area for the Prime Minister and to discuss this, he attended a roundtable on energy security, where field experts and top energy CEOs interacted with the Prime Minister. Experts from Stanford University also participated. Shri Modi asserted that India has what it takes to become the clean energy capital of the world. He talked about India’s focus on clean and renewable energy and the government’s focus on solar, wind and biomass sector.
Meeting the Energy Secretary,
Mr. Ernest Moniz
United States of america
United Kingdom
France
Bangladesh
Saint Vincent and Granadines
Guyana
Jordan
Egypt
Saint Lucia
Bhutan
Sweden
Cyprus
Palestine
Mexico
Call on by World Bank President
SAP Centre Address
Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community at the SAP Centre in San Jose. In a speech full of hope and aspiration the Prime Minister spoke about the numerous pro-people initiatives taken by the NDA government in the last 15 months. He shared details about the financial inclusion scheme of the government and how that has opened new doors for the poor. Shri Modi paid rich tributes to Bhagat Singh and added that the Government’s efforts to create a strong and developed India continue at great pace.
PM’s Speech Video
Meeting the Indian community
Here is what various people who
interacted with the Prime
Minister said about the visit:
