Prime Minister Narendra Modi's busy schedule will take him back to the United States in September this year. He is logged to visit the Silicon Valley, marking the second time an Indian head of government will travel to California after Jawaharlal Nehru in 1949. The term “Silicon Valley” was not even coined during Nehrus' time and San Fransisco was better known as the centre for political activism by NRIs.
Officials of Indian-American organisations have commenced preparations to recreate the Madison Square Garden magic as the PM will address them and technology entrepreneurs at the Valley. “We have planned a community reception on the evening of September 27 at the SAP Centre, San Jose where close to 20,000 people are expected to gather to hear him speak,” Khanderao Kand of the Indo-American Community said. “The event is a historic moment for the Indian community in Silicon Valley and the diaspora in general,” Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale, in-charge foreign relations, BJP said.
Modi's visit will be more business than politics, and focused on the 'Digital India' intiative. The San Fransisco Bay area is home to more than half a million influential Indian Americans; a profitable target audience for what the prime minister has in mind. He is expected to visit offices of king brands such as Google, Intel, HP, Oracle, Facebook and Twitter.
There also are speculations that Modi will contribute enough time to start up companies as they make for a big chunk of the Valley. A survey accounts that 15 per cent start up companies in the Silicon Valley have Indian founders or co-founders.
“I hope his time is not monopolized by billionaires and big companies. Silicon Valley is so much more than that. It is the culture of start-ups and the enabling ecosystem that makes it what it is,” says Vinod Dham, a former Intel vice-president, also known as the Father of the Pentium Chip.
Ever since he took the seat as the head of the country, Narendra Modi has held several bilateral meetings with governments of different countries, marking several firsts in Indian history. His Nepal visit made him the first prime minister to visit in 17 years and his upcoming trip to Israel will mark him as the first Indian PM to visit the country.
