Trump to woo Indian executives during New Delhi visit

Jain Irrigation Systems

14/02/2020 11:39

* Trump likely to meet several Indian execs in Delhi-sources
    * Meeting to include firms focussing on manufacturing, jobs
    * Trump in India Feb. 24-25 to meet Modi

    By Aditya Kalra and Alexandra Ulmer
    NEW DELHI, Feb 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump
will meet executives of large Indian companies with interests in
the United States as he looks to drum up investments during his
visit to New Delhi this month.
    Executives of some of the companies expected to attend the
meeting include Indian oil & gas company Reliance Industries
 RELI.NS , diversified group Tata Sons and auto sector companies
such as Bharat Forge  BFRG.NS , Mahindra and Mahindra  MAHM.NS 
and Motherson, industry and business sources told Reuters.
    Trump is scheduled to make his first visit as president to
India on Feb. 24-25 during which he will travel to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi's home state of Gujarat followed by talks
in New Delhi. The two countries are trying to sign a trade deal
during his visit.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2AE02P
    On Feb. 25, a meeting is being planned between Trump and
Indian executives, especially those focussing on job creation
and manufacturing in the United States, the sources said. 
    The meeting, which will be held in New Delhi, was unlikely
to include executives of U.S. companies, they said.
    Creating new jobs and boosting manufacturing is critical for
Trump in his re-election bid later this year. U.S. factory
activity rebounded in January but only after it contracted for
five straight months.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2A106B    
    "President (Trump) is keen on acknowledging Indian companies
which are focussing on manufacturing in the United States," said
a Washington-based source aware of the plans.
    United States is a key market for several Indian firms.
    Mahindra last year said it will invest another $1 billion in
the United States and was committed to creating American jobs,
while Bharat Forge has announced plans to invest $56 million to
set up a new plant in North Carolina. 
    The $100-billion Tata Group says it is one of the largest
Indian-headquartered multinationals in North America, with 13
companies and more than 35,000 employees.
    The Confederation of Indian Industries and U.S.-India trade
groups have suggested several Indian executives for the Trump
meeting and the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi was reviewing that,
one source said, adding the final list was yet to be finalized. 
    The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi declined to comment. 
    Other than his meeting with Indian business leaders and
Modi, Trump is expected to attend an event at a stadium in
Gujarat along the lines of the "Howdy Modi" extravaganza held in
Houston last September during which the two leaders made a joint
appearance. 
    

 (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by
Sanjeev Miglani and Angus MacSwan)
 ((aditya.kalra@thomsonreuters.com; +91-011-49548021; Reuters
Messaging: aditya.kalra.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net (Twitter:
@adityakalra))