Facebook, Silicon Valley like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

  MENLO PARK, Calif. — On Facebook's campus on Sunday, two of the world's most powerful men used the high-tech company's pulpit to promote a mutually beneficial platform: the growing power and influence of social media and the future of the digital economy in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg were given a warm reception. The friendly crowd of about 1,000, many of them Indian immigrants and Silicon Valley workers support Modi's "Digital India" initiatives which call for more high-speed Internet access and tech jobs to raise the standard of living in a country where so many still live in poverty. "We are an $8 billion economy today. My dream is to become a $20 trillion dollar economy," Modi said during his 50-minute appearance at Facebook alongside Zuckerberg. Modi and Zuckerberg had a one-on-one meeting before the event, yet more evidence of the deepening ties between India and Silicon Valley and of their increasingly entwined fortunes. Facebook is wooing Modi as it looks to expand in the potentially lucrative Indian market. Facebook has launched an effort to connect Indians to the Internet throughInternet.org, but that has met with resistance from some in India who say the project unfairly favors the giant social network and other services. Modi's two-day swing through Silicon Valley — the first time an Indian head of state has been in California in 33 years — has commanded the attention of top tech CEOs. Modi met with Google's Sundar Pichai and Apple's Tim Cook, among others, to seek stronger ties and investment in India. Silicon Valley has been only too happy to host Modi. India is the world's fastest-growing major economy, representing a potentially lucrative opportunity for U.S. companies as smartphone and Internet access begins to spread. The visit has also brought out Modi's critics, some of whom protested outside Facebook's headquarters. Critics say Modi's digital push could impinge on the privacy and the rights of Indians, others allege his government suppresses dissent and religious freedom. The Facebook event was carefully scripted and the audience handpicked. The PA system played Bollywood songs and the crowd of Facebook employees and invited guests chanted "Modi! Modi!" Modi addressed the audience in Hindi. The town hall-style event was aired live on Indian television. Zuckerberg opened the town hall recalling how he visited India, especially a temple there, on the advice of one of his mentors, the late Steve Jobs who had sought inspiration in the country. "This was early in our history," Zuckerberg recalled. Facebook had hit a rough patch and Zuckerberg was fielding offers to sell the company.           Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg during the town hall at Facebook. (Photo: Susanna Bates, AFP/Getty Images)