India is a happening place today : Ravi Shankar Prasad

Washington, Jan 17: Describing India as a "happening place" and a land of aspirations, Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has appealed to US businesses to invest in the country in a big way specially in ambitious programmes like Make in India.

Stating that India has now emerged as a land of aspirations, Prasad wooed the American business community to invest in a big way in the government's ambitious programs like Digital India and Make in India, which he said will change the face of the country.

"Use of technology is an important tool to fulfil this idea of aspiration. The creative energy of India is waiting to show its accomplishments again under Narendra Modi. Indians want to realise their dreams in view of the extraordinary vision of Modi," Prasad told US corporate leadership in a video message to the "Digital India Roundtable" here yesterday.

Sharing details of the recently launched programs like Digital India and Make in India, Prasad said India was now the most happening place in the world. "There is enormous scope for investment, growth and also very exciting business prospects. India today is a happening place," he said.

He said Narendra Modi's mission was that the internet must reach more than 620 million by 2018.

"India would become a very powerful digitally connected world. This would lead to a good architecture for electronic delivery of service. The entire contour of India is change," he said. "India is sitting at the cusp of a big digital revolution," Prasad said at the event organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Chase India.

Prasad: India would become a very powerful digitally connected world

Indian ambassador to the US S Jaishankar said Digital India would be a real game changer for the country. "If and when that happens, it is surely going to impact the global economy," he said, adding that e-commerce has now started to take off in India and Digital India opens new opportunities for all.

"We truly see an important role for US companies in making our goal of Digital India a reality," he said. Observing that the context here is the faster pace of India's quest to modernity, Jaishankar referred to a number of reforms and initiatives of the Indian government.

The recent India trip of US Secretary of State John Kerry with a large delegation reflects their interest in India, he said.

PTI