Modi, Biden hail landmark Air India-Boeing agreement

Prime Minister Modi had a 'warm and productive' phone call with US President Biden, a statement issued by the PMO said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday and the two leaders hailed the landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing as a shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries.

According to an announcement by the White House, Boeing and Air India have reached an agreement under which the airline will purchase 220 planes from Boeing -- 190 B737 MAX, 20 B787, and 10 B777X -- for $34 billion.

There will be an option to buy 70 more aircraft that could take the total transaction value to $45.9 billion.

Prime Minister Modi had a "warm and productive" phone call with US President Biden, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said.

"Glad to speak with @POTUS @JoeBiden. Excellent discussion to review the ongoing and new initiatives to further deepen India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership," Modi said in a tweet.

"We welcome the landmark @airindiain-@Boeing agreement which will help create new opportunities in both countries," he said.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the deepening of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which has resulted in robust growth in all domains, the PMO said.

Prime Minister Modi and President Biden welcomed the announcement of the landmark agreement between Air India and Boeing as a "shining example of mutually beneficial cooperation that will help create new employment opportunities in both countries", the statement said.

Modi invited Boeing and other US companies to make use of the opportunities arising due to the expanding civil aviation sector in India.

The two leaders welcomed the first meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) held recently in Washington DC, and expressed a keen desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in space, semi-conductors, supply chains, defence co-production and co-development and knowledge and innovation ecosystems, the PMO said.

They agreed to bolster the vibrant people-to-people ties between the two countries, which have been mutually beneficial, it said.

The two leaders agreed to remain in contact during India's ongoing G20 Presidency to ensure its success, the statement said.