Elon Musk seeks business opportunities after meeting Modi in the US

In early 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the United States to meet with President Donald Trump, during which he also held discussions with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. This meeting was significant as it highlighted the growing interest of global tech executives in the Indian market, particularly in sectors like space exploration and artificial intelligence. Modi and Musk reportedly explored avenues for enhanced collaboration between Indian and U.S. entities, emphasizing innovation and sustainable development. Musk has long expressed his desire to introduce his satellite internet service, Starlink, to India. Previously faced with regulatory challenges and competition from major players such as Reliance Jio, Musk's ambitions were met with some resistance. However, the Indian government recently modified its policies regarding spectrum allocation for satellite services, moving from an auction-based model to an assignment model, which may facilitate Musk's entry into the Indian market. Furthermore, Musk's electric vehicle company, Tesla, is also eyeing entry into India's automobile market, which is one of the largest in the world. The high import duties on foreign vehicles have been a significant hurdle. Nevertheless, India's government aims to increase electric vehicle adoption, aiming for 30% of total car sales to be electric by 2030. This evolving landscape presents a favorable environment for companies like Tesla, especially as the government incentivizes local manufacturing of electric vehicles. The meeting between Modi and Musk reflects the significant potential and challenges in establishing business operations in India. As Modi and Musk discussed various topics of mutual interest, including technology and innovation, it became clear that Musk's ambitions could align with India's growth objectives, particularly in bridging the digital divide and promoting sustainable technologies.