Media reports Modi probably to meet with Musk soon

(MENAFN) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Elon Musk during his upcoming visit to the United States, according to a CNBC TV18 report. Modi, who will visit at the invitation of President Donald Trump, is likely to meet Musk and other top CEOs on February 13. However, no official confirmation has been made.

Musk, who leads SpaceX and Tesla, is expected to use the opportunity to discuss the approval of Starlink's operations in India, as well as strengthening collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). In November 2024, India’s telecommunications minister revealed that Musk's company was seeking security clearance to provide satellite broadband services in India, with the government's review underway.

Modi had previously met Musk during his 2023 US visit, sparking discussions about Tesla’s potential entry into the Indian market. Musk had planned to visit India later in the year to announce plans for Tesla but canceled the trip, citing his commitments to Tesla. Reports suggested that Musk’s investments in India had been paused, possibly due to capital constraints.

India recently introduced a new policy to attract foreign electric vehicle manufacturers, offering import duty concessions for companies that invest at least $500 million in setting up a manufacturing unit in the country. This policy change was seen by some as a result of Tesla’s lobbying efforts.

Despite Tesla’s strong sales in China, recent trade tensions between the US and China could affect Tesla’s operations, especially with the new 10% tariff on Chinese goods imposed by the US administration under President Trump.

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