Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Cristiano R. Amon, the President and CEO of Qualcomm, in New Delhi on October 11, 2025, to discuss India's rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), innovation, and skilling. The meeting highlighted India's growing role in global technology innovation.
During the discussion, Modi expressed his appreciation for Qualcomm's dedication to India's Semiconductor and AI Missions. He emphasized India's potential as a global hub for cutting-edge technologies, stating that the country offers "unmatched talent and scale to build technologies that will shape our collective future".
Amon thanked Modi for the enriching discussion on strengthening the partnership between Qualcomm and India, particularly in support of the IndiaAI and India Semiconductor Missions, as well as the transition to 6G. He also pointed out the significant opportunities for developing an Indian ecosystem across various sectors, including AI-powered smartphones, PCs, smart glasses, automotive, and industrial applications.
Following the meeting, Modi shared his thoughts on X, stating, "It was a wonderful meeting with Mr. Cristiano R. Amon and discussing India's strides in AI, innovation and skilling. Great to see Qualcomm's commitment towards India's semiconductor and AI missions". Amon reciprocated with his own post, thanking Modi for "fostering a broader partnership between @Qualcomm and India" and expressing encouragement about opportunities to develop an Indian ecosystem across multiple sectors.
Qualcomm's interest in expanding its business in India extends beyond smartphone chipsets to include XR (extended reality) and smart glasses. There are reports that Qualcomm is collaborating with Indian companies to reduce the price of smart glasses, aiming to make them only slightly more expensive than traditional eyewear.
Amon has previously spoken about the importance of democratizing AI technology to ensure widespread access. He views 6G connectivity as crucial for the age of AI.
This meeting occurs at a time when China has initiated an investigation into Qualcomm regarding its acquisition of Autotalks, an Israeli company.
