Why Modi is still India's best chief sales officer

I was delighted to be an invitee to the US India Business Council's 41st Annual Leadership Summit at the beautiful neoclassical Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington DC.

Arriving two hours early to avoid long queues was a smart move. The foyer of the Auditorium on Constitution Avenue buzzed with senior leaders of Indian and American businesses eager to listen to PM Modi and wanting to sense the current business climate in India.

Many had heard the prime minister on his first trip to the US in September 2014 and were keen to hear about the progress.

The audience mainly comprised India's biggest asset in the US - its high achieving diaspora. The who's who of the diaspora, from leading business luminaries to philanthropists and fundraisers.

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Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharma and Jeff Bezos of Amazon were recipients of the Global Leadership Awards presented to them by PM Modi. Shanghvi promised to Make in India and Innovate in India. Bezos talked of how Amazon is transforming the lives of small and big town Indians, putting more money into their pockets.

He talked of how it is India Unlimited from his perspective and announced the investment of an additional USD three billion in India. (MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted that USIBC members are on track to invest over $45 billion in India).

And then, the moment we had all been waiting for. Prime Minister Modi spoke about the many schemes of his government and why the oldest and the largest democracies should work hand in hand to improve the lives of Indians and Americans.

Reform and transform were the buzzwords, reforms should transform the lives of ordinary citizens.

He pitched the growing Indian economy as a more attractive investment destination over China, in the current economic downturn. "I am speaking to you at a time when the global economy continues to be weak. The world needs new engines of growth. It would be nice if the new engines are democratic engines."

The prime minister spoke in English and one got the feeling that it cramped his style. He, however, had an attentive audience. The PM talked of India's admiration for the start-up culture in the US and measures being taken to create an enabling ecosystem for start-ups in India.

The message, once again, was about how Indian Americans are critical to the growing economic ties between the two countries. India is much more than a "market", PM Modi talked of India being a reliable partner, a great source of talent for the US.

PM Modi then dined at the high table with senior American politicians and business leaders who also spoke. Amongst them, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and Senator John McCain. Pelosi talked of lessons of non-violence that America has learnt from India.

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It is clear that PM Modi has many admirers in the US, and the expectations of delivery from him still remain very high. Speaker after speaker praised him, his vision, leadership and "CEO" like style.

Translating the talk to tangible results is going to be PM Modi's toughest challenge, as it has been over the past two years as his government grapples with low job creation, a tough business environment, corruption and fringe voices which can play spoilers back home.

But for now, he is the man of the hour and India's best chief sales officer.