Mukesh Ambani, Mark Zuckerberg Discuss WhatsApp-Jio Impact On India

Mumbai, December 16: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani interacted with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg at the internet major’s Fuel for India 2020 event.

 

 

 

They spoke about the importance of digital connectivity as a means to empower the masses, how small businesses get a much-needed push with the right technology and tools in place, Jio’s partnership with Facebook as, well as India’s Digital India mission and the entrepreneurial journey.

 

Moreover, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg also touched upon how Indian organisations are leading the way in digital inclusions for the world. He stated that Facebook also tests a lot of new features in India first before rolling out globally.

 

“India is home to the world’s largest communities,” said Zuckerberg. He underlined the demand for people to connect in India.

 

 

 

During the meeting, Ambani also praised PM Narendra Modi for his ‘Digital India’ vision, which inspired and motivated the citizens of India. He said that it was PM Modi’s Digital India initiative that pulled India through this difficult time when the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated everyone to work from home.

 

“If the pandemic had struck India 4/5 years ago, we would not have been in a shape as good as we are in today, with all the connectivity we have. The credit must go to our PM Modi’s ‘Digital India’ vision which motivated the entire industry to roll out broadband in the first five years of Modi’s tenure,” said RIL Chairman said.

 

Talking about Jio and Facebook's partnership Zuckerberg said, partnership with Jio Platforms will help support millions of small businesses in India."One of the big opportunities I see with the partnership with Jio Platforms is the role that we can play together in supporting the millions of small businesses in India - especially now with the impact that Covid is having," he said. He further added that "It is accelerating the move for a lot of businesses from physical storefronts to digital".

 

Meanwhile, Ambani said that technology is going to democratise wealth and value creation for individuals and small businesses in India. "Through our partnership (Jio Platforms and Facebook), we will become a value creation platform for our customers and small businesses, giving them a chance to digitise and be at par with anybody else in the world," said the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries.

 

Zuckerberg also praised India’s Unified Payments Interface, saying it had made sending money as easy as sending a message. WhatsApp just recently launched payments in India after struggling to get regulatory approval for some time. He also confirmed that “India is home to the largest communities in the world, across Facebook and WhatsApp and getting there on Instagram, as well.”

 

Fuel for India 2020 is the first edition of an annual dialogue built around Facebook's continuing commitment to India.