Trump to woo Indian executives during New Delhi visit

Monday, 17 February 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

US President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, US, 12 February - Reuters/File photo

NEW DELHI (Reuters): US 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 and gas company Reliance Industries, diversified group Tata Sons and auto sector companies such as Bharat Forge, Mahindra and Mahindra and Motherson, industry and business sources told Reuters.

Trump is scheduled to make his first visit as president to India on 24-25 February, 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.

On 25 February, a meeting is being planned between Trump and Indian executives, especially those focusing 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 US companies, they said.

Creating new jobs and boosting manufacturing is critical for Trump in his re-election bid later this year. US factory activity rebounded in January but only after it contracted for five straight months.

“President (Trump) is keen on acknowledging Indian companies which are focusing on manufacturing in the United States,” said a Washington-based source aware of the plans.