Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States has resulted in several significant outcomes in areas such as defence, renewable energy and critical minerals cooperation, as per Union Minister Smriti Irani. The visit led to several deals being signed on Space and Defence, including an MOU on Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership, which will promote research and commercial opportunities. These collaborations will also help to accelerate the development of diverse and sustainable critical energy mineral supply chains.
Moreover, the combined investment between Microone Technology Inc. and the Indian government is valued at 2.7 billion dollars, and the company will invest $825 billion to build a new semiconductor assembly and test facility in India, with the support of the Indian government. Additionally, an MOU between General Electric and Hindu Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the manufacture of GES 414 jet engines in India is being praised across the country.
Furthermore, a joint Indo-US quantum coordination mechanism will help facilitate collaboration between industry, academia, and government, and NASA and ISRO will develop a strategic framework for human space flight cooperation by the end of 2023. A two million dollar grant program for joint development and commercialization of artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies was launched.
The India-US defence acceleration ecosystem was also launched, which is a network of universities, startups, industry and think tanks aimed at facilitating joint defence technology innovation and advanced defence technology co-production between India and the United States of America. Finally, a pro-planet Prime Minister has helped to realise India and the US’ new and emerging renewable energy technologies action platform.
The launch of this platform will accelerate cooperation in green hydrogen offshore and onshore wind and other emerging technologies, which is being praised across India. Moreover, India announced the world’s largest green hydrogen mission, and this platform will complement that very Indian ambition.
According to Irani, this is the era of dialogue and diplomacy, and the United States’ oldest democracy has yet again delivered for the people of India. The partnership between India and the U.S. is a testament to this, and through dialogue and diplomacy, they have made significant strides in key areas such as defence, renewable energy, and critical minerals cooperation.
