‘This is the Indian century’: Jeff Bezos goes desi, makes big ‘Make in India’ pledge, talks climate change
Bezos, clad in a vibrant blue-coloured Nehru jacket, talked of the world’s largest democracy leaping ahead.
By ET Online | Updated:
Amazon founder and tech mogul, Jeff Bezos, is on a three-day visit to India. On Wednesday morning, the top entrepreneur sat down with Amit Agarwal, Senior VP and Country Head - Amazon India, for a fireside chat at the ‘Amazon SMBhav’, a mega summit for SMBs (small and medium businesses).
And what emerged from that fireside chat was nothing short of firecrackers. The 56-year-old business tycoon clearly had the audience in rapt attention, as the frequent applause proved. And, why not?
From talking shop to failures in business, entrepreneurship and innovation, Bezos used the right keywords as he spoke of India’s democratic prowess and powers. And the crowd at Delhi’s sprawling Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium roared as the world’s richest billionaire bet big on India, saying that the “21st-century belongs to India.”.
“I wanna make a prediction for you,” Bezos, said.“I predict that the 21st-century is going to be the Indian century. The dynamism, energy … everywhere I go here, people are interested in self-improvement, growth. This country has something special. This is going to be the Indian century.”
The tech mogul who sees India as an important market for Amazon outside the United States, also sounded an optimistic tone about the bilateral relations between the two nations. In fact, he further predicted that one of the most important alliances in the world is going to be between the US and India - the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy respectively.
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But tech and democracy were not the only keywords that Bezos used generously in his chat. He also took the occasion to drive home the effects of climate change even as he reiterated Amazon’s climate pledge that aims to reach the goals of the Paris Accord 10 years earlier than scheduled. He also vowed that Amazon - which has faced a lot of flak for using unnecessary plastic for wrapping products - will aim to eliminate plastic usage in India by June this year 2020.
“One of the things large companies like Amazon can do is climate pledge, it can be a needle mover. There are no other good planets in this solar system, we have to take care of it (the earth),” Bezos, said.
Another major announcement Bezos made was about the SMBs. He announced that he aims to digitise Indian SMBs and will spend $1 billion for the same. Bezos continued, “We will try to use Amazon's global footprint to export 10 billion USD of 'Make in India' goods by 2025,” an announcement which was welcomed by the audience with an applause.
After speaking at length about the nuances of climate change, the Amazon founder moved his focus to space tech. Emphasizing on the importance of space technology, the tech mogul said, “We need space entrepreneurs.”
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Referring to Zuckerberg’s Facebook, Bezos talked about how two kids in a college dorm room can build a company the scale of Facebook, a company with half a trillion dollar market cap.
But, when it comes to space, two kids in a college dorm room, Bezos said, cannot build a space company due to the high costs involved. The 56-year-old said that the costs need to be reduced so that the college kids can explore their potential and build a space company.
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It was not just the speech of the billionaire that gave off a desi vibe. Bezos showed everyone his desi avatar and donned a vibrant blue-coloured Nehru jacket and pants, which he later shared was given to him by one of the SMB founders. Bezos was also seen lighting a traditional Indian lamp before the summit began.
Bezos landed in India on Tuesday and paid homage to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. He is scheduled to meet industry experts including Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata, followed by celebrity meet and a fireside chat with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
Heartaches Of 2019: Bezos’s $38 Bn Settlement, Arjun-Mehr Divorce, And Nicolas Cage’s Gone-In-4-Day Marriage
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2019 was a year of heartbreak.
Long-term unions, marriages and relationships came to an end, and broke our hearts.
From Amazon boss Jeff Bezos's 25 years of togetherness, Dia Mirza's 11-year-long relationship to the four-day marriage of Nicolas Cage, this year saw celebrities headed for splitsville.
Here's a look at all the separation news that made us realise how true love suffered in the year gone by .
2019 was a year of heartbreak.
Long-term unions, marriages and relationships came to an end, and broke our hearts.
From Amazon boss Jeff Bezos's 25 years of togetherness, Dia Mirza'..
Read More
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie had the business and the rest of the world in shock when they called it quits after 25 years of marriage in January. The billionaire couple, who have four children, finalised their divorce in July, which ensured a spot for the 49-year-old MacKenzie in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
She became approximately $ 19.7 million richer when she received a four per cent stake in the form of Amazon.com shares. She also joined the list of the world's ultra-wealthy philanthropists when she promised to donate half her fortune to charity as a signatory of the Giving Pledge before the settlement came through.
Even though the 55-year-old CEO retained a 12 per cent stake in the company, later, in November, Microsoft founder Bill Gates triumphed him as the world's richest man.
The National Enquirer’s reports about Bezos dating a former news anchor, Lauren Sánchez, were confirmed when they were spotted together for dinner dates, holidays and sporting events.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie had the business and the rest of the world in shock when they called it quits after 25 years of marriage in January. The billionaire couple, who have four ch..
Read More
11 years of togetherness ended when actress Dia Mirza and producer-husband Sahil Sangha released a joint statement announcing their separation in August. In their social media posts, the couple wrote that they have 'mutually decided to separate', but will remain friends.
Days after their announcement, a new controversy erupted where the film-maker was said to be in an intimate relationship with 'Judgementall Hai Kya' screenwriter Kanika Dhillon (who also split from director-husband Prakash Kovelamudi around the same time). Mirza took to Twitter to put these rumours to rest, and expressed disappointment at the level of irresponsibility.
11 years of togetherness ended when actress Dia Mirza and producer-husband Sahil Sangha released a joint statement announcing their separation in August. In their social media posts, the couple wro..
Read More
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth stayed in the news this year for their loveable Insta posts after getting married in December last year, and a quick separation in August.
Within days, there were reports suggesting Hemsworth's battle with heavy drinking and drug habit forced Cyrus to end the relationship, while another source from 'The Hunger Games' actor's camp claimed that the 'Wrecking Ball' singer's infidelity was the reason.
The 26-year-old singer took to social media to confirm the news and said she can admit a lot of things, but cannot accept being called a liar who is covering up a crime she hasn't committed. She denied cheating rumours.
The couple had tied the knot at a private ceremony in Franklin, Tennessee after dating on and off for many years. They first met while shooting for the movie 'The Last Song' in 2008, and then the actor proposed to Cyrus in 2016 for the second time.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth stayed in the news this year for their loveable Insta posts after getting married in December last year, and a quick separation in August.
Within days, there ..
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After 21 years of togetherness, Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia decided to split.
According to a Mumbai Mirror report, a Bandra court granted divorce by mutual consent under the Special Marriage Act, nearly six months after they had approached the court to dissolve their marriage on April 30, 2019.
The reports suggest that the couple's two daughters will reside with their mother at their duplex in Bandra. Reports of a split between the couple first emerged in 2011, but it was only at the end of May 2018 that they officially announced their separation, four months after Arjun moved out of their shared home into a rented 2 BHK.
The actor-turned-producer recently welcomed a son with South African model-girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades in July this year.
After 21 years of togetherness, Arjun Rampal and Mehr Jesia decided to split.
According to a Mumbai Mirror report, a Bandra court granted divorce by mutual consent under the Special Marriag..
Read More
After announcing their separation in April, Adele filed for divorce from her husband Simon Konecki in September.
The singer is known for fiercely guarding her personal life, and managed to keep her union a secret with her longtime partner. It was during the 2017 Grammys speech when she referred to Konecki as her 'husband' while accepting the album of the year award.
Some media reports suggested that the couple were married for seven years, and welcomed their son, Angelo, in 2012. The duo has decided to raise their son together, lovingly.
After announcing their separation in April, Adele filed for divorce from her husband Simon Konecki in September.
The singer is known for fiercely guarding her personal life, and managed to ..
Read More
Actress Ileana D'Cruz and her photographer beau Andrew Kneebone recently unfollowed each other on social media, triggering speculations that trouble is brewing in paradise.
The 'Barfi' actress, who often posted pictures taken by Kneebone - and even referred to him as the 'best hubby ever', has deleted all pictures of him, and taken by him, from her Instagram handle.
The couple had neither confirmed nor denied reports of being married, but often indulged in social media PDA.
The 32-year-old actress's move has left the rumour mills buzzing about a supposed split. Ileana and Andrew have been together for years. In an earlier interview to news agency IANS, the 'Rustom' star had said that her personal life is "very sacred" to her and that she does not want it to be "served on a platter in a gossip column".
Actress Ileana D'Cruz and her photographer beau Andrew Kneebone recently unfollowed each other on social media, triggering speculations that trouble is brewing in paradise.
The 'Barfi' actr..
Read More
Actor Bradley Cooper split from his supermodel-girlfriend of four years Irina Shayk in June.
The couple had started dating in April 2015, and finally made a red carpet debut at the L'Oreal Red Obsession party during Paris Fashion Week as a couple in May 2016. But, the two decided to keep their relationship private.
Shayk made heads turn at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Paris in November 2016 when she walked the ramp in her baby bump. The two welcomed their daughter - Lea De Seine - in March 2017.
In February, several speculations were made after the 'A Star Is Born' actor and his co-star Lady Gaga showed undeniable chemistry during their intimate Oscars performance of 'Shallow'.
Actor Bradley Cooper split from his supermodel-girlfriend of four years Irina Shayk in June.
The couple had started dating in April 2015, and finally made a red carpet debut at the L'Oreal ..
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Nicolas Cage's drunken nuptials to girlfriend Erika Koike was one of the most short-lived unions in the history of marriages. Four days after getting married in Las Vegas, the 55-year-old actor rushed to get it annulled, but only succeeded in getting a divorce three months after their wedding.
The 'Ghost Rider' actor had said that he was too drunk to understand his actions when he married his girlfriend, and wasn't aware of her 'relationship with another person'.
This was his fourth marriage. He was previously married to former waitress Alike Kim for 12 years, singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley for two years and actress Patricia Arquette for six years.
Nicolas Cage's drunken nuptials to girlfriend Erika Koike was one of the most short-lived unions in the history of marriages. Four days after getting married in Las Vegas, the 55-year-old actor rus..
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Shruti Haasan and her actor-boyfriend Michael Corsale decided to stay friends after calling it quits in April. The couple parted ways after dating for two years, and the news was confirmed by the London-based writer on social media.
While the Tamil actress was always tight-lipped about her relationship with Corsale, they never shied away from posting pictures with each other on Instagram. The duo often travelled to London and the US to spend some quality time. Haasan had also introduced her then boyfriend to the parents when he was in Chennai.
Shruti Haasan and her actor-boyfriend Michael Corsale decided to stay friends after calling it quits in April. The couple parted ways after dating for two years, and the news was confirmed by the L..
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