Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who is leading an Indian delegation to the US urges the technology firms in California to take advantage of the growth opportunities that India offers. While speaking at an event, Prasad highlighted the inclusive growth that Indian digital space had witnessed in wake of the government’s Digital India programme.
“At our tour of the Wipro Innovation Center, we saw how a strong trade relationship benefits both the Indian and California economy. As world leaders in the technology arena, our two countries can build on this success to grow more jobs and create even more economic opportunities for each other,” Prasad said.
IT Minister participated in a series of discussions and meetings with CEOs and senior executives from some of California’s prominent businesses including VC’s focused on the Indian market. He also met business leaders of the Indian technology companies operating in the US market.
Later on, he also visited Stanford University and had a discussion on the use of technology for human development and the application of AI and the challenge it poses. “It was an extra-ordinary visit to Stanford University. Had a wonderful exchange with its brilliant faculty on [the] use of technology for human development and the application of AI and the challenge it poses. The faculty was deeply impressed with India’s story of digital inclusion,” he tweeted.
According to a statement from IT trade association Nasscom, the meetings discussed the need to work collectively to better manage technology challenges like data privacy and security issues, especially in the context of next-generation technologies like AI, IoT, big data in priority sectors that have huge social impact including healthcare, fin-tech and social inclusion.
The visit was facilitated by Nasscom in partnership with California Business Roundtable and other local partner organisations.
“With innovation and digitisation at the heart of both the countries’ DNAs, we are sure that our synergies with the business community in California, will lead to a long and fruitful symbiotic relationship,” said Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, who is part of the delegate.
“Technology industry in this state is critical in helping to create and grow jobs and our state heavily relies on the Bay Area and Silicon Valley for its economic stability. New and expanded relationships between our two countries will only strengthen both economies,” said Rob Lapsley, President of the California Business Roundtable.
