Modi, Biden focus on expanding defence industry, semicon ties

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Joe Biden ahead of the Quad summit in Delaware on Saturday and held discussions on key areas of the India-US strategic partnership.

India signed and ratified agreements under Pillar-III, Pillar-IV and the overarching agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. The two leaders hailed the new US-India Drug Policy Framework for the 21st Century and its accompanying memorandum of understanding.

Modi and Biden welcomed the formal launch of the new US-India Global Digital Development Partnership, which aims to bring together American and Indian private sector companies, technology and resources to deploy the responsible use of emerging digital technologies in Asia and Africa.


In a meeting hosted at the US President's home in Wilmington (Delaware) in what was President Biden's last structured meeting with the Indian PM, Modi conveyed his appreciation for the "unparalleled contributions" made by Biden in giving impetus to the India-US partnership. In a joint fact sheet after the talks, Biden welcomed the procurement of 31 General Atomics MQ9B drones, which will help boost India's surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Biden also welcomed India's decision to set a uniform goods and services tax rate of 5% on the maintenance, repair and overhaul sector, including on all aircraft and aircraft engine parts. The two leaders recognised the remarkable progress under the US-India Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions and ground mobility systems.

Biden and Modi hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next-generation telecommunications and green energy applications.

Among the regional issues India discussed during the Modi-Biden meet included concerns over the developments in Bangladesh, it has been learnt. The two leaders hailed the US-India Roadmap to Build Safe and Secure Global Clean Energy Supply Chains. The leaders welcomed the signing of an MoU between India's Ministry of MSME and US' Small Business Administration.