Washington, DC: On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and the United States have established a goal of achieving $500 billion in bilateral trade by 2023. He emphasized that teams from both nations will collaborate to finalize a trade agreement that benefits both parties.
During a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump, PM Modi noted that Americans are familiar with Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan, while Indians are striving towards the vision of "Viksit Bharat 2047." He highlighted the importance of enhancing oil and gas trade to bolster India's energy security.
PM Modi stated, "The American public is well-acquainted with President Trump's 'MAGA - Make America Great Again.' Similarly, the people of India are dedicated to their heritage and development as they advance towards the ambitious goal of Viksit Bharat 2047. In American terms, we can say it's 'Make India Great Again' - MIGA. The collaboration between America and India transforms this MAGA and MIGA into a 'mega partnership for prosperity,' which expands the scale and scope of our shared objectives. Today, we have also set a target to more than double our bilateral trade, aiming for USD 500 billion by 2030. Our teams will soon work on finalizing a mutually advantageous trade agreement."
He further announced that India and the US are progressing towards joint development, production, and technology transfer. PM Modi asserted that the partnership and cooperation between the two nations can contribute to creating a better world.
We will enhance oil and gas trade to secure India's energy future. Investment in energy infrastructure will see an increase. In the nuclear energy domain, we discussed expanding our collaboration, particularly regarding small modular reactors. The United States is pivotal to India's defense readiness. As strategic and trusted allies, we are making significant progress in joint development, production, and technology transfer. In the near future, new technologies and equipment will bolster our capabilities, he stated.
Expressing his appreciation for the warm welcome and exceptional hospitality, PM Modi remarked, "I would like to extend my gratitude to my friend Donald Trump for his generous welcome and outstanding hospitality. President Trump has nurtured the India-US relationship, bringing it to life through his leadership. During his first term, we collaborated closely, and I felt the same enthusiasm, energy, and commitment today. In our discussions, we reflected on our accomplishments during his first term, the deep mutual trust we share, and our resolve to set new objectives. We are confident that our partnership and cooperation can contribute to a better world."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump embraced as the latter welcomed him at the White House on Thursday (local time). The two leaders exchanged warm greetings and handshakes. During their meeting, Trump expressed, "We missed you, we missed you a lot."
The Prime Minister is among the first global leaders to visit the United States following President Trump's inauguration, having been invited to come within three weeks of the new administration taking office.
