Modi says looking forward to Google meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday acknowledged Google chief executive Sundar Pichai's remarks that his company saw India as a key market and looked forward to the leader's visit to his campus in San Jose.

"Thanks @sundarpichai for your message," the prime minister tweeted on Saturday, ahead of the G4 Summit among India, Japan, Germany and Brazil. "I appreciate the role of @google in @_DigitalIndia and look forward to meeting you today," he said.

The prime minister is scheduled to meet Pichai on Saturday and visit the Google campus the day after.

In a Youtube channel post, Pichai had said earlier that Google was looking to renewing and strengthening its partnership with India, as it sees the country as a pivotal market in its global expansion plans.

"We hope your (Modi's) visit will energise people in the (Silicon) Valley, excite Indians all across the country and will renew and strengthen our partnership," the newly appointed Indian-origin chief executive had said.

Pichai also praised Modi's Digital India initiative and said Google was excited to play a part in it.

"Prime Minister Modi's Digital India vision is central to the revolution and has received tremendous support both in India and Silicon Valley," he said, adding: "In the next few years we think 50 million women and 20 million small businesses will come online for the first time."