India's Modi to tap Tesla investment in key rendezvous with Elon Musk

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a visit to the US, he is expected to meet tech billionaire and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla Elon Musk in an attempt to possibly encourage the owner of the electric car maker firm to pour money into his country, reported NDTV Tuesday.

Modi has been in the US to meet officials and leaders from various fields to seek bilateral cooperation and strengthen mutual strategic partnerships. 

PM Modi met Musk back in 2015 during his visit to Musk's electric car company in California and the current meeting comes as the 51-year-old CEO is exploring lands for his Tesla factory in India. 

While speaking in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Musk, who bought Twitter last year, was asked if Tesla was interested in the Indian market to which he replied: "Absolutely," adding that his firm Tesla is "likely to finalise a location to set up its India factory by the end of this year."

Besides Musk, the Indian PM will also meet author and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, economist Paul Romer, statistician Nicholas Nassim Taleb and investor Ray Dalio, according to Indian media reports.

Among others, Indian-American singer Falu Shah, author and researcher Jeff Smith, former US trade representative Michael Froman, diplomat Daniel Russel and defence expert Elbridge Colby are also included. 

Modi left for the US Tuesday morning for his state visit.

He is also set to deliver an address to a joint session of the US Congress, while meetings with business leaders and Indian expats, including dinner at the White House with US President Joe Biden.

The reports also show that on the agenda of his trip, trade and defence matters are high on the table.