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<ul class="summary-list"><li>The former Amazon CEO joined over 200 other guests at a White House state dinner on Wednesday.</li><li>President Joe Biden hosted the dinner in honor of the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida. </li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-net-worth-life-spending-amazon-founder-billion-wealth">Jeff Bezos</a>, founder and former CEO of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon">Amazon</a>, and his fiancée <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-relationship-timeline-photos">Lauren Sanchez,</a> a former news anchor and philanthropist, joined 200 other guests at a White House state dinner on Wednesday.The dinner was hosted by President Joe Biden for the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, to celebrate the relationship between the two countries. Other business leaders in attendance were <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jamie-dimon-jpmorgan-letter-war-inflation-recession-rates-economy-ai-2024-4">JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon</a>, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tim-cook">Apple CEO Tim Cook</a>, and BlackRock chief <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-crisis-social-security-savings-401k-genz-investing-blackrock-fink-2024-3">Larry Fink,</a> as well as figures from politics and entertainment such as former President <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-bill-clinton-relationship-timeline-2018-12">Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton,</a> and actor <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-de-niro-becomes-emotional-discussing-infant-daughter-gia-virginia-2024-1">Robert DeNiro.</a>Japanese business figures like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/softbank-masayoshi-son-jack-ma-bet-ai-2024-2">SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son</a> and former Mitsubishi chairman Ken Kobayashi were also on the invite list.Bezos was invited alongside his fiancée Lauren Sanchez. The couple went public with their relationship in 2019, following Bezos' split from <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-wife">ex-wife MacKenzie Scott.</a>According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2024/04/10/state-dinner-japan-biden-kishida-guests/">The Washington Post</a>, the event was "full of formality and lacking subtlety." Jill Biden had the State Floor of the White House transformed into what she dubbed a "<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-kishida-state-dinner-white-house-japan-c323a1a6137298ec2d401a9d82a7e1c8">vibrant spring garden</a>" for the event. Guests were treated to a three-course meal inspired by American and Japanese cuisine. Business and tech leaders are no strangers to these state events. Last year, the White House hosted a dinner for the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ceos-tim-cook-sundar-pichai-sam-altman-white-house-dinner-2023-6">Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, </a>which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-ceo">Tim Cook</a> also attended alongside <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sam-altman-chatgpt-openai-ceo-career-net-worth-ycombinator-prepper-2023-1">OpenAI CEO Sam Altman</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sundar-pichai-google-alphabet-ceo-career-life">Google CEO Sundar Pichai.</a>

Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez were among the top tech bosses and business leaders to attend a lavish White House dinner

Post the first state visit of <keyword id="6354814" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-narendra-modi" source="Orion">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword> to the US, the two countries are forging much closer bilateral ties with high-level visits on all fronts, a senior Biden administration official has said, observing that India and the US have never had a stronger relationship than now. Modi visited the US at the invitation of President Joe Biden and met him on all three days of his stay here between June 21 and June 23. On June 22, the two leaders spent time together for more than eight hours, the official said. Biden also held a private dinner for Modi on June 21. India and the United States have never had a stronger relationship than right now, the official said post-Modi visit, it has never been deeper in the memory of the president. The official said China was a major issue of discussion between the two leaders. "In reality... it (China) is not the glue of our relationship at all, but it's one of the factors and I think we're gonna have that glue for a long time to come," the official, familiar with the discussions between the two leaders last month, said on condition of anonymity. Both India and the United States believe that China poses a major national security threat to them, the official said, noting that the Biden administration thinks New Delhi has been ahead of Washington in terms of handling Beijing. The Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya had a meeting with the Dalai Lama a couple of weeks ago in New Delhi, and "the Chinese kind of went nuts about that", the official noted. "They (Indians are) in some ways were ahead of us. It is much more existential for them in terms of countering the China threat. Whether it's banning TikTok, whether it was building up mobile networks with no Chinese equipment, they've actually shown a way forward of what de-risking looks like. And that's why I think they're so critical," said the official. "At the same time, they still depend on a lot of Chinese things, just like we do. China has been a real irritant in the G-20 for them," the official noted, giving an insight into the G-20 discussions and the balancing act that India is doing to bring all stakeholders together. In India "Modi's popularity is about 80% in some polls, so is America's," the senior administration said. "That's not just reflected at the very top which is where we usually write about or hear about. It's, I think, underneath that at the government-to-government level business-to-business level. And then people to people," the official said. "Vice versa, if the bridge from India to America is a steel reinforced four-lane highway, a strong, stable bridge; I would describe in years past the bridge from America to India has been like a rope bridge with every other plank missing. Like we don't know India and Indians anywhere near the level that India and Indians know America and Americans. I think that's beginning to change," said the official, referring to a large number of high-level visits to India. There's hardly a week or two that goes by without a major US government representative being in the country. And then on the business side, it's like a steady stream of CEOs, he said, adding "some have better strategies than others, but everybody's like rushing India." "It's one of those moments where, if you rewind the clock, China 15 years ago was raising people at this pace out of poverty into the middle class. India is actually doing it a little faster than China was 15 or 20 years ago. You just look at the metrics, whether it's the number one source of student visas now, India surpassed China last year, whether it's the investment, which is a record level, and we're the number one trading partner for India for the first time. And another number of other metrics," the official said. "This is the most significant country in many ways for them and becoming one of the most. The president said one of the most consequential relationships we have. Privately he's expressed ... that this is the most important relationship that we have, at least in terms of growth and, and the future," said the official.

Indo-US relationship much stronger after PM Modi's recent US visit: Biden admin official

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg should probably be feeling a little embarrassed now.</li><li>This week, the tech billionaires discussed cage fighting as a way to settle their disputes.</li></ul>The CEOs of Apple, Google, and Microsoft attended a White House dinner with India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, on Thursday as Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-mark-zuckerberg-twitter-meta-cage-fight-2023-6">escalated their beef with each other. </a>Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai, and Satya Nadella appeared as Silicon Valley's adults in the room when they visited Washington for President Joe Biden's state dinner during a crucial diplomatic visit to the US by Modi this week, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-22/apple-google-microsoft-ceos-attend-modi-dinner-at-white-house?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=share&amp;utm_campaign=twitter#xj4y7vzkg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg reported.</a>The dinner's guest list also included a wide range of high-profile figures and celebrities, including Ralph Lauren, James Murdoch, and Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani, <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/22/white-house-releases-state-dinner-guest-list-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">per a list of attendees published by the White House.</a> <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/modi-heads-to-washington-to-talk-oil-arms-and-indias-sovereignty-1032402748">Modi's visit to the US this week</a> has been a crucial one for Biden, as the White House looks to build closer ties with India. The meeting was held amid growing hostilities with China over its increased aggression towards Taiwan and its economic decoupling with the US. Though Musk and Zuckerberg weren't on the guest list, their absence from the dinner this week comes at an embarrassing moment for the tech billionaires. The Twitter owner and world's richest man chose to escalate his rivalry with the Meta boss this week by <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-elon-musk-cage-match-send-location-jiu-jitsu-2023-6">challenging him to a cage fight on Tuesday</a>. Zuckerberg responded to the challenge by asking Musk to "send me location" on an Instagram post. On Thursday, the same day the White House dinner took place, <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1672004064480034816?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Musk tweeted "let's go full MMA,"</a> suggesting that his fight with Zuckerberg should involve the style of combat seen in UFC bouts. Musk and Zuckerberg have beefed with each other for some time, but recently become more antagonistic amid <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-considered-twitter-competitor-amid-elon-musk-crisis-report-2022-12">reports that Zuckerberg plans to launch a rival service to Twitter.</a> Musk and Meta did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment made outside of normal working hours.

While Musk and Zuck escalated their playground squabbles, the adults at Apple, Google, and Microsoft met Modi at the White House

A series of events have made this day a remarkable one. While #ModiinChina is trending on social media, <keyword id="6354616" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Twitter">Twitter</keyword> broke, thanks to meme experts and Photoshop specialists splashing out some kickass hilarious stuff. 
 But, honestly speaking, after a fruitful day of strategic discussions with China’s <keyword id="2540" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="President">President</keyword> <keyword id="191809" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xi-Jinping">Xi Jinping</keyword>,the <keyword id="71" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Prime-Minister">Prime Minister</keyword> would require a good night’s sleep. 
 But before that all important ‘beauty sleep’ would come the ‘pet puja’. And if you have been wondering what would Modi have for dinner after a stressful day, the <keyword id="6374106" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-External-Affairs">Ministry of External Affairs</keyword> would satiate your curiosity. 
 
As shared in the Twitter handle of MEA, China’s culinary hospitality to Modi would include an all vegetarian menu: 
 
Sour and spicy soup with fired dough 
Assorted vegetables with pancake and red bean rice 
Beancurd with mushroom 
Water chestnut with in bean sauce Braised asparagus and bamboo fungus with <keyword id="71296" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lotus">lotus</keyword> root 
Noodle, dumpling and pancake 
Fruits and sorbet 
 
Here's the screenshot: 
 
 
 The banquet dinner in <keyword id="298964" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Xian">Xian</keyword> reads delicious certainly. It’s time for you to have your evening tea. 
 
(Image: Twitter)

#ModiinChina: Modi’s Chinese dinner

On Sunday, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> hosted a 'Digital India' dinner for top tech CEOs at San Jose, California in the US. 
 
At the dinner, some of the prominent leaders who met the Prime Minister were John Chambers (Executive Chairman of Cisco Systems), Sundar Pichai (Google CEO), Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) and Paul Jacobs (Executive Chairman of Qualcomm). 
 The trip to <keyword id="6357722" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="silicon-valley">Silicon Valley</keyword> forms part of Modi's visit to the US' west coast - the first by an Indian prime minister in more than three decades. 
 
"With Prime Minister Narendra Modi in office, we have the opportunity to reinvigorate US-India relations and bring our partnership to new heights," Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee said in a welcome statement as soon as Modi landed at San Jose Airport. 
 
 Image credit: Twitter @MEAIndia

PM Narendra Modi hosts 'Digital India' dinner

If you want to know India better, you ought to taste the variety of foods the country offers. This belief is being taken too seriously by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and it shows. The dinner table at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, meant to discuss business with global companies worth $4 trillion on it, would also become a feasting ground. 
 
As the four-time Michelin-starred Chef Vikas Khanna prepares to cook an all organic 6-7 course meal this evening, the feast would cover most parts of India with unique and special offerings. 
 
The new age and fine dining avatar of Indian cuisine would cover 30-plus festival foods in India. As they say, from Kashmir to Kanya Kumari and Meghalaya to Gujarat, the menu of Modi’s dinner would include Sandalwood Saffron Sherbet, Pomegranate Sangria With Tandoori Pineapple, Paneer Ravioli, Thandai Chicken, Mizoram Black Rice Khichdi, Saffron Sheermal, Mango-Ginger Soup and Coconut Rice Creme Brulee. 
 
The chef has admitted that the magic he would create today is only because of his grandmother in Amritsar who taught him how to cook. 
 
While Khanna remained unavailable for comment, his representative Deepika Bansal said that he was "proud and humble to get the opportunity". 
 
This gastronomic sojourn is set to break the glass ceiling of investments, because ‘Modi means business.’ With CEOs of Ford, Lockheed Martin, Citigroup, Dupont, Goldman Sachs, BlackStone, Boeing, Cargill, Starwood, Paypal and IBM feasting on the Indian food, Modi would surely get some positive nods from them, thanks to Indian food. 
 
(Image: Event Combo)

It's not Modi but Indian food that will ‘bridge the gap’ with global CEOs in the US tonight

<keyword id="6354814" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="prime-minister-Narendra-Modi">Prime Minister Narendra Modi</keyword>’s war against black money, the demonetisation drive, has not only impacted Indians, but have had its effects felt on Russian ambassador too. Due to <keyword id="6380684" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="cash-Crunch">cash crunch</keyword>, he couldn’t eat a decent dinner, forget running regular diplomatic business. 
 Russian Ambassador <keyword id="170280" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Alexander-Kadakin">Alexander Kadakin</keyword>, an old India hand, wrote to the <keyword id="6374106" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ministry-of-External-Affairs">Ministry of External Affairs</keyword> (MEA) on December 2: "Please just imagine if we in Moscow mirror this order of SBI (<keyword id="6354731" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="State-Bank-Of-India">State Bank of India</keyword>) when 50,000 roubles will not be enough to pay for a decent dinner in a restaurant, not to mention functioning of such a big embassy as ours in New Delhi or India's in Moscow." 
 
Diplomatic missions of Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Ethiopia and Sudan have also sent protest letters on cash withdrawal restrictions. 
 
"SBI informed the Embassy that the cash withdrawal limit available to the Embassy is now 50,000 per week under the government of India directives with no exceptions unless otherwise advised by the RBI," he wrote. "Such an amount is totally inadequate as regards the embassy's salary and operational expenditure requirements." 
 
Officials in the Russian embassy said that its New Delhi mission has a staff strength of 200 (excluding family members) and with the new withdrawal limit the cash at hand for one person comes to 250 a week. 
 
Kadakin in his letter urged MEA to intervene so that the withdrawal restrictions for diplomatic staff is lifted. 
 
A senior diplomat in Delhi said that a number of missions have taken their case to MEA and many more may follow. 
 
A task force of MEA and finance ministry was set up after demonetisation was announced on November 8. Some bank branches have been kept aside for transactions by diplomats so that mission staff can avoid long queues. But foreign diplomats in India say there has to be a solution to the fundamental problem - ceiling on cash withdrawal. 
 
MEA has said it is working to find solution to the problem. 
(image: IndiaTimes)

Russian Ambassador could not eat a decent dinner! Here’s why

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto would surely have heard of the Indian hospitality when he decided to give the <keyword id="9870" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-PM">Indian PM</keyword> a taste of the Mexican hospitality by personally driving him to a restaurant for dinner for a vegetarian treat. 
 
A photo tweeted by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup showed the 49-year-old Nieto driving the car as Modi sat beside him, on his trip to a restaurant called 'Quintonil', where they bonded over vegetarian dinner. 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
	
		In a very special gesture,President <a href="https://twitter.com/EPN">@EPN</a> personally drives <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> to a restaurant for Mexican vegetarian fare <a href="https://t.co/fF4WWQvUy2">pic.twitter.com/fF4WWQvUy2</a>
	— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/740742543378251777">June 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
Swarup later shared a photo showing the two leaders sharing a meal at the restaurant. 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en">
	
		Bonding over bean tacos! President <a href="https://twitter.com/EPN">@EPN</a> and PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a> share a meal <a href="https://t.co/ckmsmpjWo7">pic.twitter.com/ckmsmpjWo7</a>
	— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/740743098209210368">June 9, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
Nieto had also expressed his pleasure on welcoming Modi, who had come to Mexico from Washington for a short visit. 
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
	
		It's an honor to welcome you to our country, PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi">@narendramodi</a>. I trust that your stay in <a href="https://twitter.com/mexico">@Mexico</a> will be both productive and pleasant.
	— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/EPN/status/740691092677353472">June 8, 2016</a></blockquote>

When Mexican president Peña Nieto personally drove PM Modi to dinner

<keyword id="53533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="entrepreneurs">Entrepreneurs</keyword> and startup founders are scheduled to meet Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> and they have readied a plan and pitch on various issues. Over 200 entrepreneurs and startup founders will meet Modi on Thursday and talk about ease of doing business, growth and job creation. Founders from several sectors such as education, finance, health, etc met on Wednesday and charted out a plan. Modi, too, joined them for an informal interaction over dinner. The gathering was organised by Niti Ayog under its two-day ‘Champions of Change’ programme. The entrepreneurs interacted with ministers and top officials including secretaries from various ministries and departments on various issues concerning their sectors and challenges facing the country. "The system is today geared to drive change. Decision-making too has become far more efficient," finance minister <keyword id="42575" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword> told the gathering, according to a Niti Aayog tweet. “It very encouraging to see that our Prime Minister and the government have invited opinions from change agents such as new-age entrepreneurs in solving key problems we face," <keyword id="198636" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="vijay-shekhar-sharma">Vijay Shekhar Sharma</keyword>, founder of Paytm, told ET, adding “I am confident that this initiative will result in some concrete solutions, and also prove to be an enabler to thousands of budding <keyword id="6362513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups">startups</keyword>."

Startup founders ready plans for growth, job creation ahead of their meeting with PM Modi

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">ReutersArun Jaitley, Minister of Finance of India attends the session "The Global Economic Outlook" during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland January 23, 2016.</div></div></div>When Narendra Modi became India's 15th Prime Minister in May 2014, he had a heavy mantle to take on.The country experienced decade-low GDP growth in 2013 and Heritage's Index of Economic Freedom gave India poor scores for business freedom, corruption, and various other issues which affect businesses.International relations with the business community were also heavily damaged when the previous government, led by Manmohan Singh, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/telecoms/9783296/Vodafone-faces-1.6bn-tax-bill-from-India.html">hit Western telecoms giant Vodafone with a $2.5 billion (£1.6 billion) retrospective tax bill</a>.It put fear in the hearts of many Western corporates with subsidiaries in India because it symbolised how they could be potentially blindsided by the government for crippling amounts of cash.But one of the country's most prominent CEOs at one of the largest companies in the country, Anuj Puri, told Business Insider that during a secret dinner during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week, a strong exchange of words between the country's finance minister Arun Jaitley and the leader of the opposition summed up how India is at a crossroads right now when it comes to regaining the trust of international businesses.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Thomson ReutersIndia's Prime Minister Modi gestures as German Chancellor Merkel watches during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi</div></div></div>"This year there is a much better perspective over India but people are still sceptical in the business community because the previous government regime did lots of damage to the economy," said <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/jll-india-anuj-puri-davos-interview-india-property-and-investment-2016-1">Puri, Chairman &amp; Country Head, of JLL India (formerly Jones Lang LaSalle)</a>.JLL is one of the world's leading and largest real estate and investment management companies with $6.2 billion in market capitalisation. Puri also oversees a team of over 8000+ employees across 11 cities in India."They moved one step forward and then two steps [backwards] and the retrospective taxation of Vodafone made the international community mistrust India for business. The mood is sombre at a global level but India has started to gain back some momentum of trust with this government.""I was at a dinner with only 4 or 5 of us last night (Friday January 22) and the current finance minister of India was being told by the leader of the opposition [Puri did not specify the name] to 'not miss the bus' when it comes to the country's economy and getting more foreign business into India. Our current finance minister told him that we are fortunate to even bring India to the bus stop because the previous government wasn't anywhere near.""He added that this current government has enabled the first step to even get to the bus stop while the previous government lost the opportunity to even get onto to bus but now, the government is trying to push through reforms of liberalisation, investment in human capital and rebuild trust in the international community. It is also looking to nurture entrepreneurs. 'Yes we haven't reached the destination but we made the bus stop,' said the current finance minister."India's economy has steadily grown from those record lows in 2013. Trading Economics noted (emphasis ours):"Indian economy expanded 7.4% year-on-year in the three months to September of 2015, following an upwardly revised 7.1% expansion in the second quarter. Figures came better than market expectations of a 7.3% increase, boosted by financial, real estate and insurance activities and manufacturing."<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Trading Economics</div></div></div>It's hardly surprising because Modi's government, within two months of coming to power, eased foreign direct investment caps. Then in August 2014, the government launched a financial inclusion plan called "Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana," which sought to make sure every home had access to a bank account. That's great news for the economy as more people are able to buy and sell things.A month after that, Modi's government then launched the "Make in India" initiative to get multinational and domestic companies to establish manufacturing bases into the country.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image">Anuj Puri/Google PlusAnuj Puri, Chairman &amp; Country Head, JLL India, formerly Jones Lang LaSalle, spoke to Business Insider in Davos, Switzerland for the WEF meeting.</div></div></div>Most importantly, Modi's government tried to push through the uniformed Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill to deal with problems in the country's tax system, including indirect tax.Indirect tax is when the Indian government collects taxes from an intermediary such as a manufacturer or retailer. It's pretty complicated but the current government led by Modi is trying to get this changed and more streamlined by introducing a uniformed GST bill. There are 29 states in India and 29 different tax rates for businesses.But this is where Puri sees the issues in progress and what was symbolised by the dinner he attended in Davos last week.Basically, the current government is trying to push forward heaps of reforms that will get India more favourable for Western investors but they can eventually be blocked if the opposition doesn't like it."The current government still does not have a majority, so this means key reforms can still be blocked. For example, this government is trying to push through a more simple tax scheme that stops the retrospective tax regime like what happened with Vodafone but this was blocked. The government is also trying to put through the GST which hopes to unify tax which makes things easier for foreign businesses to do business in India," he said to Business Insider."I would say I think the trust is evolving but the trust is not complete." <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jim-cramer-come-back-jon-stewart-beatdown-show-up-motivational-speech-2016-1">Jim Cramer's inspiring words on how to come back from a beatdown</a></h3> <div> <div> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="43czgxMDE6GqIsZB86yhV6ZIeE5-jMiE" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> </div> </div> </div>

A secret Swiss dinner with India's government and the opposition highlighted how fragile reforms are right now

AP/Siddharth Darshan KumarNarendra Modi believes the world should fight climate change, and he's helping India lead the way.India's prime minister Narendra Modi is meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday, and the agenda could include climate change as the two prepare for the G-20 Summit in July.In the wake of Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement, Modi might have a thing or two to lecture the American president about. India is leapfrogging the US with ambitious renewable energy goals - and it's achieving them.Following the US' departure from the Paris accord, countries like India, China, and the EU have "stepped up to fill the void the US left behind" John Coequyt, the Sierra Club's global climate policy director, told Business Insider on Monday.India <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/21/india-renewable-energy-paris-climate-summit-target">wants</a> to get nearly 60% of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2027, and the country is <a href="http://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/05/15/india-china-track-exceed-paris-climate-pledges/">on track to exceed</a> the goals it set in its commitment to the Paris deal."India in particular has made huge progress in terms of not only meeting but actually being on track to exceed its Paris commitments," Coequyt said, "and as the cost of solar energy and other renewables continues to fall globally, we're only going to see that trend accelerate."So how did India, infamous for its sometimes choking pollution in major cities, cut back its emissions faster than anyone predicted? One word: coal.India has been unabashedly shutting down its coal plants. For example, The Independent reported last week taht Coal India, the world's largest coal company that's responsible for 82% of India's coal, announced it was <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/coal-india-closes-37-mines-solar-power-sustainable-energy-market-influence-pollution-a7800631.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">closing 37 mines</a> due to the economic non-viability of the fossil fuel. Indian economic coal imports are falling, and <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-25/india-s-energy-minister-wants-to-cut-coal-imports-to-nothing">Bloomberg reported</a> the India's energy minister announced the government wants to do-away with coal imports entirely.Dropping coal isn't a new phenomenon in India. From July 2015 to July 2016, India's "coal plant pipeline" fell by 40 gigawatts, according to <a href="http://coalswarm.org/trackers/a-shrinking-coal-plant-pipeline-mide-2016-results-from-the-global-coal-plant-tracker/">Coal Swarm</a>. And under its <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/21/india-renewable-energy-paris-climate-summit-target" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">draft National Electricity Plan</a> from December 2016, the country isn't planning on building any new coal power plants.By virtue of adopting renewables with such gusto, about 25,000 remote villages in India <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/india-villages-leapfrog-to-renewables-2016-3">could never</a> use fossil fuels. They'll sail right past coal and start using solar, hydropower, and biomass as their first sources of electricity.Some in India might be seeing renewable electricity before places in the United States. These Indian villages could "leapfrog" fossil fuels and go straight to renewables, <a href="http://fletcher.tufts.edu/CIERP/People/Research-Fellows/Kartikeya-Singh">Kartikeya Singh</a>, a doctoral candidate at Tufts University, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/india-embracing-solar-faster-than-america-2016-3">told Business Insider in 2016</a> - leapfrogging the US in the process.Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump meets with coal miners at the White House in March 2017.By comparison, <a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_in_the_united_states">64% of American electricity came from fossil fuels</a> including natural gas and coal in 2016, according to the US Energy and Information Administration. Renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydropower only accounted for only 15%.Following through with his campaign trail promises, Trump aims to amp up coal production in the United States, first by rolling back environmental regulations and pulling out of the Paris agreement. EPA administrator Scott Pruitt has been reaching out to coal companies, and his senior policy advisor Mandy Gunasekara told a coal conference audience that the EPA would be <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/scott-pruitt-coal-industry-epa-2017-5">there to help coal companies</a>.While the federal government is stepping down from its leadership role on fighting climate change, cities and companies are pledging their support. Twenty-nine states have <a href="http://www.ncsl.org/research/energy/renewable-portfolio-standards.aspx">adopted</a> renewable energy goals, and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/we-are-still-in-group-represents-62-trillion-of-the-us-economy-plans-to-stay-in-paris-agreement-2017-6">We Are Still In</a> movement - a coalition of government players, academics, and big businesses that pledges to stick to the Paris agreement - represents $6.2 trillion of the US economy.Businesses in the US and India can both see that phasing out fossil fuels and adopting renewables is the path forward."Shifting away from fossil fuels toward clean, renewable energy is not an option when it comes to the economy and healthy communities," Coequyt said. "That's a fact in India, in the US, and around the world."During their working dinner on Monday night, Modi might just broach the topic of climate change with Trump. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-refutes-james-comey-testimony-flynn-russia-tapes-recordings-says-loyalty-speak-under-oath-2017-6">'I did not say that': Trump fires back after Comey's testimony and says he will '100%' speak under oath</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

Prime minister Modi could lecture Trump on climate change - India is leapfrogging the US on renewables

What is the best gift you gave someone on his/her birthday? Can’t remember! Well it’s definitely not as grand as what <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> has given their beloved leader. <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> on his birthday has been gifted a mobile app, which lets people wish him on his birthday. Anyone can download the app in their phone and wish <keyword id="6354642" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi">Modi</keyword> on his birthday. Moreover, as a return gift the users will receive a personalized ‘Thank You’ video from the Prime Minister himself. Our tech savvy Prime Minister should be much elated to get this. 
 
The messages from top 50 prominent personalities of the country have gone live on the app today. 
 Some of the messages were accessed by the <keyword id="6474066" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-times">Economic Times</keyword> before they go live on the mobile app. <keyword id="6357912" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="amitabh-bachchan">Amitabh Bachchan</keyword>, Madhuri Dixit, <keyword id="31278" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lata-Mangeshkar">Lata Mangeshkar</keyword> and <keyword id="6355923" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aamir-Khan">Aamir Khan</keyword> have written in, so have <keyword id="3820" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mukesh-Ambani">Mukesh Ambani</keyword> and <keyword id="9171" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Anil-Ambani">Anil Ambani</keyword>, Uday Kotak, <keyword id="46425" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Anand-Mahindra">Anand Mahindra</keyword>, <keyword id="190960" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Baba-Kalyani">Baba Kalyani</keyword>, Venu Srinivasan, Chanda Kochhar, <keyword id="45634" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jagdish-Bhagwati">Jagdish Bhagwati</keyword> and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw. Shashi Tharoor, Vinod Rai, Sanjay Baru and Sri Sri Ravishankar have also sent in their greetings. Sports people like PV Sindhu, P Gopichand, Saina Nehwal and <keyword id="487" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sania-Mirza">Sania Mirza</keyword> have shared their reflections of experiences with PM. 
 
Here's a look at how a entrepreneurs wished the Prime Minister on his birthday 
 
Anand G. Mahindra Over a decade ago when Narendra Modi visited Mumbai and invited businessmen to invest in <keyword id="6354766" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Gujarat">Gujarat</keyword>, I remember thinking to myself: 'This man is different'. And over the ensuing years, PM Modi has indeed proved that he is a different kind of man. He is a man in a hurry to transform India. 
 
Sunil <keyword id="272096" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharti-Mittal">Bharti Mittal</keyword> 
The last couple of years have been quite revealing. Under a visionary leader, India's potential, which was never quite in doubt, has suddenly found new meaning, and more importantly, acceptance and respect among global audiences at the highest level. The eloquence with which the PM communicated India's vision for the world...the way his charismatic statesmanship gets applauded, it makes each and every Indian proud. 
 
Cyrus P Mistry One of my first meetings I had, along with <keyword id="3660053" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="mr-ratan-tata">Mr Ratan Tata</keyword>, after assuming a new role in <keyword id="8555" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tata">Tata</keyword> group in 2012, was with Mr Narendra Modi. I remember going into the meeting thinking that this would entail the standard exchange of pleasantries. That day, I came out of the meeting having learnt an important lesson in leadership. 
 
Anil Ambani I recall the first time I met <keyword id="1267365" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendrabhai">Narendrabhai</keyword> in the 1990s when my father <keyword id="6418409" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dhirubhai-Ambani">Dhirubhai Ambani</keyword> invited him home for dinner. At the end of the conversation, Papa remarked: "<keyword id="110806" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lambi">Lambi</keyword> race no ghodo chhe, leader chhe, PM banse - he's a thoroughbred for the long run, a true leader, he will be prime minister. In the words of my father, Narendrabhai "dreams with his eyes open" and with <keyword id="6359315" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="arjuna">Arjuna</keyword> like clarity of vision and purpose. 
 
Kumar Mangalam Birla 
Today, there is an air of confidence, a 'can do' feeling. Narendra Modi's has put in place the foundation for strong and sustained economic growth that benefits everyone. Not surprisingly, there has been a distinct improvement in the ease of doing business in India. Above all, Mr Modi is a man of integrity, a man of character, and that is what resonates the most. 
 
 Here’s how <keyword id="143" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bollywood">Bollywood</keyword> wished the Prime Minister on his birthday on the app 
 
Lata Mangeshkar 
You were opposed a lot but you have kept on walking on the path of truth. The whole world in the grip of violence but I am sure your policies will win over this violence. 
 
Aamir Khan 
I always pray that your health always remains fine and you get all your desired happiness. This year has been more memorable for you compared to your earlier years. 
 
 
Amitabh <keyword id="6354348" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="bachchan">Bachchan</keyword> 
I first met you at your CM residence, Gujarat to seek tax exemption for Pa. An ordinary house, an ordinary room...you said let's watch the fi lm, took me along to a theatre and saw the film. Spoke a bit about Gujarat tourism... and Surprise, within a week Gujarat tourism offi cials were at my home in Mumbai to speak to me...and within a few days work started.

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You Searched For "Modi s dinner" and got 12 results

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Here's how Mukesh Ambani, Uday Kotak, Anand Mahindra and other Indian leaders wished Narendra Modi in his birthday