Washington, DC – Welcoming participants at the 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, India, Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump and leading the US contingent congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for building India, “as a thriving economy – a beacon of democracy – and a symbol of hope to the world.”
“From your childhood selling tea to your election as India’s Prime Minister, you’ve proven that transformational change is possible. And now you are bringing that promise to hundreds of millions of people across your country,” added the US First Daughter and a close advisor to her father, President Trump.
Later after a meeting with Ivanka, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, “Had a wonderful meeting with @IvankaTrump, advisor to @POTUS and leader of the US delegation at the @GES2017.” Modi didn’t mention that Ivanka is the daughter of President Trump.
Ivanka, however, clarified in her speech her arrival on the political scenario. “After my father’s election, I saw an opportunity to leave my businesses for the privilege of serving our country and empowering all Americans – including women – to succeed,” she told the audience.
And within a short time. President Trump retweeted Ivanka’s reply to Modi’s tweet, “It was an honor to meet with you Prime Minister Modi. Thank you for co-hosting the 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit! @StateDept.”
On the host city Hyderabad in India, Ivanka hoped technology glory will outshine its culinary fame. “It’s wonderful to be in this ancient city brimming with transformative technology – now, your tech centers may even outshine your world-famous Biryani,” said Ivanka Trump.
Noting Hyderabad as the “City of Pearls,” Ivanka said the greatest treasure is, “the dreamers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders who never give up.”
Ironically, in the US, the Dreamers are facing an uncertain future under her father Trump’s presidency of just nearly ten months. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in September that the administration was rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, upending the lives of more than 700,000 people. These are undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, a group often described as Dreamers and were given a lease of life by President Barack Obama’s DACA program.
Moreover, in a sharp contrast to her father President Trump always promising to “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) and blaming the eight years of the previous Obama Administration for all the ills, Ivanka noted, “In the United States, within the last decade, the number of women-owned firms has grown by 45%. “Even more promising, minority women have started nearly 8 in 10 new women-owned businesses,” she added.
The United States and India are co-hosting the 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad. This year’s Summit theme is “Women First, Prosperity for All.” According to a White House official, those attending from USG include Administrator Mark Green from USAID, US Treasurer Jovita Carranza, Neomi Rao, Administrator of OIRA and Ray Washburne, the President and CEO of OPIC.
GES 2017 is hosting 1,200 entrepreneurs, of which 350 are from the US representing 38 US states. This is the first time that women are the majority of participants at GES – over 50% of the entrepreneurs are women.
Tejinder Singh, Editor, India America Today & White House Correspondent