PM Modi dines with Fortune 500 CEOs in New York

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dined with over 50 CEOs from the Fortune 500 companies while continuing his pitch that India is open for business.

The dinner event, organised by the prestigious Fortune magazine, was attended by some 47 top US CEOs yesterday.

Four-time Michelin-starred Chef Vikas Khanna has prepared all organic meal for the occasion.

As the CEO dinned over an all organic meal prepared specially for the occasion by Khanna, Modi continued with his pitch that India is open for business.

The Prime Minister said India is ready to welcome them (CEOs) with both hands and it is the right time for them to come and invest in the world's largest democratic country.

Fortune Editor Alan Murray moderated the discussion.

Served on the menu plate of the CEOs were sandalwood saffron sherbet, pomegranate pangria with tandoori pineapple, paneer ravioli, thandai chicken, Mizoram black rice khichdi, saffron sheermal, mango-ginger soup and coconut rice creme brulee.

Among the CEOs of Fortune 500 companies who attended the dinner were Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Marillyn Hewson, Ford President and CEO Mark Fields, IBM Chairman Ginni Rometty, Pepsi Co Chief Indra Nooyi and Dow Chemical Chairman Andrew Liveris.

Citigroup Chairman Michael O'Neill, MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga, Boeing International President Marc Allen, Goldman Sachs President Gary Cohn, Blackstone President Hamilton James, SanDisk co-founder Sanjay Mehrotra, Harman International Chairman Dinesh Palatal and Time Inc CEO Joe Ripp were also present on the occasion.

At the start of the dinner, Vikas Swarup tweeted Modi's first official day in New York began and ended with business CEOs.

Before the start of the dinner, the CEOs had group picture with Modi.