First priority is to create jobs in India: PM Narendra Modi tells American CEOs

New York: Over a power-packed breakfast meeting with captains of 11 large American corporations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday pitched for big-ticket investments to develop India's infrastructure and create more jobs and enhance the quality of life.

The Prime Minister is believed to have pitched the India story in his interactions with the top executives, including Indian-origin PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt and Citigroup chief Michael Corbat.

He also discussed steps that can be taken to enhance India's business environment.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a breakfast meeting with American CEOs in New York, US (Photo: PTI)

"India is open-minded. We want change. Change that is not 1 sided. Am discussing with citizens, industrialists & investors," the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin tweeted, quoting the Prime Minister as saying.

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"Infrastructure development is a big opportunity; it creates jobs & enhances quality of life of our citizens," Modi told the CEOs.

PM Shri @narendramodi at breakfast meeting with CEOs at New York #PMUSVisit pic.twitter.com/keHgT4tWjj

— PIB India (@PIB_India) September 29, 2014

Modi said, “Want to convert Supreme Court’s order on coal blocks into opportunity to move ahead and clean up past.”

Reportedly, Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga told a news channel, “The Prime Minister said that his first priority is to create jobs and improving condition. He promised to do that through transparency and consistency in policy.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with PepsiCo's Indian American chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi after a breakfast meeting in New York, US (Photo: PTI)

Another CEO who was present at the meeting, GE's Jeffrey Immelt told the news channel that the Prime Minister had promised to address all their concerns.

"The PM listened to everyone's concerns and said he would address them. He likes to get things done and so do we,” Immelt said.

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Significantly, all companies already have considerable presence in India and their chiefs are believed to have expressed intention to further expand their engagements with the Indian government and enhance their business presence in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Ajaypal Singh Banga of MasterCard after a breakfast meeting with American CEOs in New York, US (Photo: PTI)

Those present at the breakfast meeting also included Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga, Cargill's President and CEO David W MacLennan, Caterpillar's Douglas Oberhelman, AES' Andres Gluski, Merck's Kenneth Frazier, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Carlyle Group David Rubenstein, Hospira's Michael Ball and Warburg Pincus' Charles Kaye.

Read: Narendra Modi gifts Indian tea to American CEOs

The over one-hour-long breakfast meet was followed by one-on-one meetings with six CEOs of Boeing, KKR, BlackRock, IBM, General Electric and Goldman Sachs.

This is the first extensive business engagement in the US of the Prime Minister, who will also attend business meets in Washington tomorrow during his second leg of the 5-day visit.

Very productive conversation; he listened to us & shared ideas, Make in India was discussed: Ajay Banga (Mastercard, CEO) after meeting PM

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 29, 2014

Modi ji is taking right steps, if he implements them India will be on a different development trajectory: Ajay Banga pic.twitter.com/yVJnBLpkmM

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 29, 2014