Trump expects to expand US-India relations.
AB Wire
First, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the US President-elect Donald Trump, days after the presidential elections got over, and now it’s Trump who has reciprocated the mutual admiration, saying that Modi is doing a “great job”, going by a source quoted by a leading Indian daily.
Trump reportedly made the comment about Modi when he met some business partners of his, from India.
“He (Donald Trump) was praising Modiji as always and added that he is doing a great job,” Sagar Chordia, director of Panchshil Realty, told the Economic Times by phone from New York. Trump, he added, expects to strengthen and expand US’ relationship with India.
Trump met Atul Chordia, Sagar Chordia and Kalpesh Mehta at Trump Tower, New York on Tuesday The discussion revolved around Indian economy and Modi. Trump’s family, including daughter Ivanka and sons Eric and Donald Trump Jr, was also present, said the Times report. Mehta is managing partner of Tribeca Developers, Trump’s India representative responsible for supporting the brand in the country.
Trump currently has five luxury projects in India including a Trump Tower, a 46-apartment block with Panchshil Realty in Pune, and an under-construction 300-apartment project in Mumbai’s Lower Parel with the Lodha Group. These are not equity joint ventures. Trump has lent his name to the projects in return for payment.
The Indo-US ties have blossomed under the leadership of Modi and Barack Obama, and before that with Dr. Manmohan Singh and Obama.
In an informal chat a couple of days back at a dinner hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Modi said that he is looking forward to working with Trump and feels that the new administration will be well inclined towards India. He added that there was no reason to fear any major change.
According to Mehta, Trump Jr. expressed satisfaction with the pace of Trump Organization’s India business and showed interest in expanding it further.
“We didn’t get a chance to talk about currency demonetization with Mr. Trump. But, his kids knew about it and they termed it as an incredibly bold move,” Mehta added.
In an interaction with the Economic Times in 2014, Trump had praised India and the changing perception about the country after Modi became the prime minister.