Modi must do what Rory did for Ryder Cup

Modi’s ‘Make In India’ campaign seemed perfectly timed with his trip to the US allowing him to pitch what Barack Obama has always fielded to India – that India is a market. Except that it’s not just a market to sell to but also potentially to buy from.

With so many Indian-Americans meeting Modi, this is a great time to get many of them to pledge industry and hub back in India. From digital, software services to making handsets and music speakers, Modi has a long list he can get rolling. Modi caught up with a group of around 10 top Indian-Americans according to this newspaper including chairman and CEO of Symphony Technology group Romesh Wadhwani, Cognizant CEO Francisco D’Souza, president and CEO of Adobe System Shantanu Narayen, University of Houston president Renu Khator and Harvard Business school dean Nitin Nohria.
Today a large number of the latest phone sellers in the market are just buying crates of instruments from China and selling them here with their own branding. Can China be replaced by India in that equation? If you ask Modi, the answer may be yes. But now the question must be thrown to some of the big global investors who thus far have enjoyed the rallies of Dalal Street but are a distance away from making brick and mortar investments in India. And can Modi convince more than Mukesh Ambani to deliver on both jobs and investments?

No doubt Modi’s visit to the US is important on many counts – from defence, business, geopolitical relationships to symbolism. America too has big interest in solidifying the bridge as evident by the string of high-level emissaries who visited India recently to establish ties with Modi. This resurgence of exchange in possibilities can only prove positive for the two great democracies.
But Modi can’t just return with American pies. He must promise to give them a big slice of comfort that India will change its bureaucratic ways and that India will improve on the ‘ease of doing business’ list. At the moment America appears a tad misty-eyed about Modi’s visit, but let’s not get this wrong. Some serious work must get done. For both India and Modi, US is an important partner.
With respect to their interest in Pakistan, the plainspeak with Iran and for economic health of the country, which feeds off a lot of money flow from the west. Modi must not let this chance – his first impression – go by without concrete talk on business and geopolitical engagement.

In his bid to foster big ambitions like Make In India, and signal to the world that he is truly a global leader, the American window must remain open.

Shaili Chopra is an award-winning business journalist and founder of www.golfingindian.com