Donald Trump meets Indian partners, hails PM Modi's work

MUMBAI: US president-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s work when he took time out from planning the transition to his presidency in January to meet with his Indian business partners.

“He (Donald Trump) was praising Modiji as always and added that he is doing a great job,” Sagar Chordia, director of Panchshil Realty, told ET by phone from New York. Trump, he added, expects to strengthen and expand US’ relationship with India.

Trump met Atul Chordia, Sagar Chordia and Kalpesh Mehta at Trump Tower, New York on Tuesday noon (US time). The discussion revolved around Indian economy and Modi. Trump’s family, including daughter Ivanka and sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr, was also present. Mehta is managing partner of Tribeca Developers, Trump's India representative responsible for supporting the brand in the country.

Trump currently has five luxury projects in India including a Trump Tower, a 46-apartment block with Panchshil Realty in Pune, and an under-construction 300-apartment project in Mumbai’s Lower Parel with the Lodha Group. These are not equity joint ventures. Trump has lent his name to the projects in return for payment.

The Indo-US bilateral relations blossomed under president Obama and PM Modi has done his bit to drive the relationship further. The defence relationship has strengthened considerably and the two countries have also made progress in other areas.

In an informal chat a couple of days back at a dinner hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Modi said that he is looking forward to working with Trump and feels that the new administration will be well inclined towards India. He added that there was no reason to fear any major change.

According to Mehta, Donald Trump Jr expressed satisfaction with the pace of Trump Organization’s India business and showed interest in expanding it further. “We didn’t get a chance to talk about currency demonetisation with Mr Trump. But, his kids knew about it and they termed it as an incredibly bold move,” Mehta added.

In an interaction with ET in 2014, Trump had praised India and the changing perception about the country after Modi became the prime minister.