After Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s founder Mark Zuckerberg arrived in India, the second biggest market for the social networking giant. He addressed the first Internet.org summit that took place in the country where he discussed connectivity in India among other things, but the whole buzz has been around his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Finally, Zuckerberg met PM Modi yesterday. Zuckerberg was dressed in a crisp suit instead of the usual jeans, t-shirt and sneakers.
PMO India official Twitter handle later sent out a picture with Zuckerberg. Take a look at the tweet below:
CEO of @facebook, Mr. Mark Zuckerberg calls on PM @narendramodi. pic.twitter.com/ewVEuuCPOl
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 10, 2014
Let’s take a quick look at what was discussed at this high-profile Mark-Modi meeting.
Needless to say, PM Modi discussed how social media could play a role in several activities in India. On the other hand, Zuckerberg expressed his interest in working with the government in the areas of heathcare and education.
Keeping in mind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Swatch Bharat’ dream project, a campaign that was launched to make India squeaky clean by 2019 by setting an example by picking up the broom himself, Zuckerberg has also promised a Clean India mobile app. Facebook will extend help in developing the Clean India Mobile App that would be launched soon. “This would give a strong impetus to the Swachh Bharat Mission,” a statement said.
PM Modi also pointed out that lots of terrorist elements are using social media platforms to recruit members, according to an official statement. He told Zuckerberg to find a solution to this problem. “This is unfortunate and we need to think of the role the social media can play to stop terror,” Modi said.
Besides, a wide range of issues revolving around the innovative use of Facebook as a platform to engage with a large audience in the service of humanity were discussed. Another important topic of discussion was Digital India. The Prime Minister has asked Zuckerberg to identify some domains of Digital India wherein Facebook could get involved and help. On the other hand, Zuckerberg said that he is extremely excited about the Digital India initiative of the Government of India.
“One of the things I am really excited about is that the PM has this whole Digital India initiative. We can’t create connectivity around the world just by ourselves, we are trying to work with operators, governments. I am mostly interested in hearing and learning about how we can help. I believe there are certain things that Facebook can uniquely bring,” he had said.
The Modi government and the PM himself is very supportive of social media. PM Modi recalled how he used social media during campaigns such as tracking the missing children, during his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and how it gave wonderful results.
He also discussed tourism in India. The Prime Minister appealed to Zuckerberg to promote India’s rich tourism potential through Facebook.
Another topic of discussion, which has been in news for some time now is Internet connectivity in India. At the summit a day earlier, Zuckerberg had emphasized on how connectivity should be for everyone, and not just rich and powerful. During the meet, Modi asked Facebook to look at how to enhance Internet literacy along with Internet connectivity.
Zuckerberg had also met Telecom and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Zuckerberg is the third high profile CEO of a US-based firm, after Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, to visit India in last few days. On Thursday, while addressing media persons, Zuckerberg had said he wanted to discuss the role Facebook can play in connecting villages and understand Modi’s Digital India vision.
With inputs from PTI
