New Delhi [India], February 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a series of high-level meetings with global leaders and industry executives on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in the national capital, reinforcing India’s leadership in artificial intelligence and deepening bilateral partnerships.
In a post on X, Modi shared details of his meeting with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, focusing on India’s rapidly growing AI ecosystem.
“It was a delight to meet Mr. Sundar Pichai on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Talked about the work India is doing in AI and how Google can work with our talented students and professionals in this field,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi also held extensive diplomatic discussions with Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, highlighting the strategic importance of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.
“Held extensive discussions with the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. Thanked him for his personal support to the India-EU FTA, which ushers in a golden era in India-Europe relations. India and Finland aim to double trade, thus giving a strong boost to economic linkages,” Modi posted on X.
He added that the two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in emerging technologies such as 6G, innovation, clean energy, biofuels and the circular economy.
Modi also met Spanish President Pedro Sanchez to explore ways to deepen bilateral ties across multiple sectors.
“Had a productive meeting with President Pedro Sanchez in Delhi. Discussed ways to boost the India-Spain friendship, especially in areas such as defence, security, technology and more,” he said.
Highlighting a milestone for the coming year, Modi noted that 2026 will be observed as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI, aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties.
“Our nations are marking 2026 as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and AI. This will deepen people-to-people linkages. Glad to see a big delegation of universities also come to India. This too will go a long way in connecting our people,” he said.
He added that the free trade agreement with the European Union would positively impact economic ties with Spain and create new opportunities for both countries.
The meetings took place during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, being held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16 to 20.
The summit has brought together government policymakers, industry AI experts, academicians, technology innovators and civil society representatives from around the world to advance global discussions on artificial intelligence.
As the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South, it aims to reflect on the transformative potential of AI, aligning with India’s national vision of “Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya” (welfare for all, happiness for all) and the broader principle of AI for Humanity.
The summit features participation from more than 110 countries and 30 international organizations, including around 20 heads of state or government and about 45 ministers.
It is part of an evolving international effort to strengthen global cooperation on AI governance, safety and societal impact.
Guided by the three foundational sutras — People, Planet and Progress — the summit promotes human-centric AI that safeguards rights, ensures equitable benefits, advances environmental sustainability and drives inclusive economic and technological progress.
In a special interview with ANI’s text service, Modi also spoke about the growing impact of artificial intelligence on India’s IT industry and the government’s strategy to strengthen the sector.
“India’s IT sector has been the backbone of our services exports and a key driver of economic growth. AI presents both a tremendous opportunity and a challenge for this sector. AI market projections show India’s IT sector could reach $400 billion by 2030, driven by new waves of AI-enabled outsourcing and domain-specific automation,” he said. (ANI)
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