‘Howdy, Modi!’-style event in the works for Trump in Ahmedabad

NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump may hold an event similar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s successful “Howdy, Modi!” in Houston last September when he visits India next month, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity.

Hindustan Times learns that it is now almost certain that the visit will happen in February, although the dates are still being worked on. The people cited in the first instance said the visit will be a stand-alone one, extend across three days, and will involve Trump visiting one Indian city apart from New Delhi. That Indian city will hold a Houston-like event, one of the people said. Ahmedabad will likely be the city, this person added, although it is yet to be finalised. Prime Minister Modi is also expected to participate in the event.

Americans of Gujarati origin are likely to join the Howdy Trump show, the first person said, adding that the event is being seen by the US President’s handlers as a good walk-up to this year’s US elections, especially given the number of Gujaratis in the US. The Indian diaspora is an important vote bloc, especially in the US and the UK. In the latter, for instance, they played a significant role with the vote almost shifting en masse from Labour to Conservatives.

Trump and Modi are expected to sign a short-term trade deal that could grant the US companies more access to Indian markets and restore to India trade benefits withdrawn last summer. They will also discuss a longer-term trade pact that could include a Free Trade Agreement.

According to the people cited in the first instance, Trump’s visit is likely to be preceded by a visit by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to finalise the trade deal.

A second person familiar with the matter said that the trade talks are headed in a positive direction and should be completed within a month or 45 days. India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal and the USTR have been in constant touch, this person added.