PM Modi speaks with Elon Musk on 'issues' discussed back in Washington this year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took to X (formerly Twitter) to share details of his recent conversation with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The discussion covered a range of topics, including several key points from their previous meeting in Washington D.C. earlier this year.

In his post, Modi emphasised the immense potential for collaboration between India and the US, particularly in the areas of technology and innovation. "Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year," Modi wrote. "We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation."



The Prime Minister reaffirmed India's commitment to advancing partnerships with the US in these domains.

This conversation comes at a critical time when negotiations are underway for a potential bilateral trade agreement between India and the U.S.

What about Musk's Tesla and Starlink in India?

Although Tesla is reportedly on the verge of entering the Indian market, the post did not touch upon this development or mention any specifics regarding the company's plans for India.

Earlier, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with a delegation from satellite internet service provider Starlink to discuss the company’s technology platform, existing partnerships, and future investment plans in India. The meeting included Starlink's Vice President Chad Gibbs and Senior Director Ryan Goodnight.

Earlier this year, Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel both signed deals with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring Starlink's satellite internet services to India. However, Starlink's operations are currently delayed, as the company is awaiting security clearance and spectrum allocation from the government.

Starlink, with its vast constellation of over 6,750 satellites, is viewed as a major disruptor in the satellite internet market, surpassing the satellite fleets of its competitors. However, Jio and Airtel have expressed concerns about the proposed satellite spectrum allocation rules.