Mukesh Ambani (Reliance Industries Chairman) – Sh Mukesh Ambani and Sh Mark Zuckerberg in discussion at Facebook Fuel For India 2020. (Dec 2020)
Chapters
00:00:00 Digital Transformation in India: Unlocking Opportunities through Technology
Welcome and Introduction: Mark Zuckerberg expressed gratitude for the attendees’ virtual presence at the first-ever Facebook Fuel event in India. He emphasized India’s significance to Facebook, with millions of users relying on its products for communication and connection.
Importance of Small Businesses: Zuckerberg recognized the crucial role of small businesses in India’s economic growth and highlighted their extensive use of WhatsApp Business and Messenger. He mentioned that India often serves as a testing ground for new features before their global rollout.
Celebration of Indian Talent: Zuckerberg praised the talent and skill of Indian individuals, especially those employed in Facebook’s offices in India and California.
Impact Beyond Facebook: He emphasized that developments in India have global ramifications, particularly in terms of technology’s potential to drive economic opportunities and positive outcomes.
Collaboration with Indian Organizations: Zuckerberg acknowledged the innovative use of technology by Indian organizations to build safer communities and inclusive financial systems. He expressed pride in Facebook’s partnerships with teams addressing these critical challenges.
Entrepreneurial Culture in India: Zuckerberg commended India’s remarkable entrepreneurial culture, highlighting its potential to unlock opportunities through improved access to tools. He acknowledged the impact of this culture not only on tech startups but also on numerous small businesses.
Serving Small Businesses: Zuckerberg reiterated Facebook’s commitment to serving small businesses, particularly in India. He emphasized the importance of small businesses in the global economic recovery and Facebook’s focus on providing them with the best tools.
Collaboration with Jio: Zuckerberg recognized the critical role of Jio in bringing internet access to hundreds of millions of Indians. He acknowledged the company’s contribution to fostering an entrepreneurial culture.
Mukesh Ambani’s Presence: Zuckerberg welcomed Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, to discuss India’s digital transformation and future prospects.
00:03:38 COVID-19 and India's Digital Transformation
Mukesh Ambani’s Opening Remarks: Congratulated Mark Zuckerberg for organizing the Facebook Fuel for India event and its potential to spur growth and innovation in India. Emphasized the power of young people to create enterprises and drive India’s growth. Recognized Mark Zuckerberg as an inspiring icon for young Indians, particularly given Facebook’s role in digitally connecting India.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Response: Conveyed best wishes for the success of India, Indians, and small Indian businesses. Expressed curiosity about India’s current situation regarding COVID-19 and when things are expected to return to normal. Acknowledged Reliance’s significant steps to aid the community and the country during the pandemic.
Mukesh Ambani’s Perspective on India’s COVID-19 Response: Acknowledged the initial shock of the COVID-19 pandemic in India but highlighted the country’s resilience and determination to overcome the crisis. Praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in guiding India through the pandemic. Emphasized India’s fiscal prudence and steps taken to support vulnerable populations, including free food distribution to over 800 million Indians. Announced the government’s readiness to roll out one of the largest vaccine programs in the first half of 2021 under Prime Minister’s leadership.
Reliance’s Response to COVID-19: Detailed the company’s efforts to protect its employees and their families, as well as the wider community. Described the construction of a dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Mumbai and the company’s involvement in testing and tracing. Mentioned Reliance’s production of PPEs, transforming India from an importer to an exporter of protective gear. Highlighted the Reliance Foundation’s distribution of 55 million meals to vulnerable populations during the pandemic.
Jio’s Role during the Pandemic: Emphasized the importance of Jio’s dedicated team in ensuring network stability and availability. Stressed that the pandemic demonstrated the value of India’s connectivity infrastructure, particularly in facilitating remote work, shopping, and education. Credited Prime Minister Modi’s Digital India vision for India’s ability to weather the pandemic.
Reliance-Facebook Partnership: Praised Facebook’s investment in Jio, which set the ball rolling for increased FDI in India. Expressed Reliance’s deep appreciation for the partnership with Facebook. Emphasized that the partnership between Jio and Facebook will benefit India, Indians, and small Indian businesses. Expressed confidence that the partnership’s actions will speak louder than words in the coming months and years.
00:10:50 India's Digital Transformation: Opportunities for Small Businesses and Economic Growth
Alliance for Digital Transformation: Mark Zuckerberg and Mukesh Ambani, renowned figures in the technology and business realms, discussed the transformative role of their partnership in fostering digitalization and empowering small businesses in India.
Technology’s Impact in a Post-COVID World: In a post-COVID scenario, technology has emerged as a crucial enabler for small businesses, aiding their shift from physical storefronts to digital platforms.
Value Creation Platform: The unique collaboration between Facebook and Jio has transformed them from mere communication platforms into value creation platforms for customers and small businesses.
Digital Connectivity and Interactivity: Jio provides digital connectivity, while WhatsApp, with its extensive user base and WhatsApp Pay, enables digital interactivity and streamlines financial transactions, enhancing value creation.
Democratization of Wealth and Value: Mukesh Ambani emphasizes the democratizing impact of technology, particularly for small businesses and individuals, promoting wealth creation and equitable distribution.
Economic Growth and Employment: Increased wealth creation leads to more employment opportunities and business growth, contributing to India’s journey towards a five trillion economy.
Vision for India’s Future: India is poised to become one of the top three economies globally, transitioning into a premier digital society driven by dynamic youth and modern businesses.
Rising Middle Class: The middle class in India is projected to expand significantly, creating a vast market and entrepreneurial opportunities.
5G and Digital Transformation: Reliance’s focus on 5G and fixed broadband will empower villages and communities with high-speed internet access, further accelerating digital transformation.
Education, Healthcare, and Technology: India’s second-generation reforms present opportunities for leveraging technology to enhance education and healthcare access.
00:16:46 Vision for India's Transformation Through Technology
Education: Ambani emphasizes the significant opportunity to connect all schools and universities in India through GEO, potentially reaching 200 million children and young adults in the coming decades. The goal is to re-skill India and improve the talent pool by 10X within a 10-year timeframe through technology-enabled education. Ambani believes that technology can democratize access to education and create a better India and world.
Healthcare: Ambani highlights the potential for technology to revolutionize healthcare by delivering services and promoting proactive health measures. He discusses the collaboration with authorities to provide technology tools and infrastructure for vaccination programs in the near future.
Democratizing Value Creation: Ambani credits Prime Minister Modi for driving value creation and democratization in India. He mentions the success of digital payments and the accessibility of technology, making it affordable for a large market with a lower per capita income.
Aspirations of Young Indians: Ambani highlights the enterprise and enthusiasm of young Indians, driven by their aspirations and confidence. He believes that these factors will play a crucial role in driving India’s social and economic transformation in the next two decades.
00:19:06 Founding Principles for Building Technology Businesses
Real-Time Communication and Internet Access: The internet has become a crucial tool for connecting people, especially during the pandemic. It facilitates the sharing of accurate information, aiding in health, education, and overall societal functioning.
WhatsApp Business App: WhatsApp’s partnership with Reliance supports over 50 million business app users globally, including 15 million in India. This partnership provides small business owners with essential digital tools to connect with customers and expand their businesses during lockdowns.
Mukesh Ambani’s Learnings: Courage and Self-belief: Entrepreneurs should have the courage and belief in their abilities. Failures and successes contribute to building self-confidence. Empathy and Creativity: Empathy involves understanding and considering the feelings of others. Creativity is essential for finding innovative solutions, such as Reliance’s initial public offering (IPO) in the 1980s. Relationships, Trust, and Loyalty: Reliance fosters a family-like atmosphere among its employees. Trust and loyalty are crucial values within the company. The founder’s vision of investing in future-oriented businesses remains a guiding principle for Reliance.
00:26:56 Rise of Digital Connectivity and Economic Empowerment
Mark’s Belief in India: Zuckerberg highlights that India is a vibrant country with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. He acknowledges that Facebook’s largest communities are in India. His optimism for India stems from its desire for connectivity and economic opportunities.
Global Impact of Facebook: Zuckerberg explains that Facebook’s primary goal was to empower people to stay connected with friends, family, and communities. He emphasizes that people’s innate desire to connect is universal. Facebook has enabled hundreds of millions of people to come online, particularly in India.
Financial Inclusion and Payments: Zuckerberg highlights the significance of financial inclusion through digital payments. He discusses the recent launch of WhatsApp payments in India, facilitated by the UPI system. This initiative aims to provide seamless money transfers and ease of payments for e-commerce.
India’s Leadership in Digital Innovation: Zuckerberg commends India for being the first country to implement a system like UPI. He praises India’s efforts in creating public goods that promote digital inclusivity. He believes other countries can learn from India’s leadership in this area.
Collaboration between India and Facebook: Ambani expresses his hope for continued partnership with Facebook to benefit hundreds of millions of people in India. He envisions India’s policies and Facebook’s innovations expanding globally.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Perspective on Global Trends: Zuckerberg emphasizes that technology is empowering individuals with opportunities previously reserved for large organizations. He sees the internet as a driving force for small business growth and innovation. He believes that technology should be leveraged to promote economic empowerment and equality.
00:32:40 Technological Advancements in Connectivity and Virtual Reality
Expanding Accessibility: Individuals now have the ability to share ideas and access information online, which was previously exclusive to larger organizations. This democratizing effect empowers and benefits individuals, leading to a more prosperous society.
India’s Role: India, being the world’s largest democracy, plays a critical role in leading this digital transformation. Empowering individuals aligns with both Zuckerberg’s and Ambani’s vision for India’s future prosperity.
Technological Advancements: Zuckerberg emphasizes the significance of technological advancements in shaping the future.
Sharing Evolution: The internet’s initial focus on text-based communication has evolved to photo-sharing. With the advent of 4G and 5G networks, video is becoming the primary sharing medium due to its richer and more immersive nature.
Virtual and Augmented Reality: Zuckerberg’s vision focuses on developing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to enhance human connection. VR allows users to immerse themselves in an experience, fostering a sense of presence and fostering deeper connections. AR can create realistic digital objects, further bridging the gap between the physical and digital realms.
The Future of Work and Connection: Zuckerberg believes that VR and AR will revolutionize work and connectivity. These technologies will empower individuals to work and connect from anywhere, fostering a more flexible and inclusive work environment.
Gratitude for Partnership: Zuckerberg expresses gratitude for Ambani’s partnership, recognizing his positive impact on improving the lives of hundreds of millions of Indians. He admires Ambani’s hunger to revolutionize and improve industries.
Looking Forward: Zuckerberg anticipates a future where advances made in India will be shared globally, benefiting people worldwide. He reiterates his appreciation for Ambani’s partnership and their shared commitment to serving the people of India.
Mukesh Ambani’s Response: Ambani expresses his gratitude to Zuckerberg for sharing his vision of the future. He eagerly anticipates the day when Facebook’s technology will allow him to virtually experience events like a cricket match in Australia while remaining in Mumbai. Ambani commends Zuckerberg’s leadership and digital architecture for making this vision a reality.
Abstract
Empowering Digital India: Zuckerberg and Ambani Illuminate the Future
The Pivotal Role of Facebook and Jio in India’s Digital Revolution
In a world increasingly shaped by digital innovation, India stands at the forefront, showcasing its potential as a global leader in technology and digital infrastructure. This leadership was prominently highlighted in the first-ever Facebook Fuel event in India, where key figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Mukesh Ambani underscored the nation’s vital role in shaping the global digital landscape. Their addresses encapsulated a vision of a digitally empowered India, poised to drive global conversations on technology’s impact on economic growth, inclusion, and the democratization of value creation.
Zuckerberg and Ambani: Visionaries of a Digital Future
Mark Zuckerberg’s address at the event highlighted India’s critical position within Facebook’s global strategy. India, with its massive user base on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, serves not only as a key market but also as a testing ground for innovative features. Zuckerberg’s faith in India’s digital potential stems from its vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and growing digital connectivity, further bolstered by the recent launch of WhatsApp payments.
Mukesh Ambani, in his address, mirrored Zuckerberg’s sentiments. He emphasized India’s role as a unique value creation platform, particularly for small businesses. Ambani’s vision extends to democratizing wealth and value creation through technology and digitization, leveraging platforms like JioMart, WhatsApp, and Jio’s digital connectivity to empower small shopkeepers and entrepreneurs across India.
India’s Resilience and Response to COVID-19
The resilience of India during the COVID-19 pandemic was a testament to its potential in the face of adversity. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India implemented effective fiscal policies, supporting the vulnerable through measures like free food distribution and direct cash transfers. Reliance, under Ambani’s direction, responded proactively, transforming India from an importer to an exporter of protective gear and supporting the community through initiatives like building a COVID hospital in Mumbai.
The Transformative Power of Jio and Facebook’s Partnership
The partnership between Reliance Jio and Facebook, finalized during the lockdown, stands as a beacon of India’s growing influence in the global digital economy. Jio’s robust network infrastructure played a crucial role during the pandemic, enabling Indians to stay connected. This partnership is not just a business alliance but a strategic collaboration that aims to foster entrepreneurship and catalyze economic recovery in India.
Shaping India’s Digital Infrastructure and Future
Ambani’s vision for India’s digital future is ambitious. He envisions connecting all Indian schools and universities, reskilling the talent pool, and leveraging technology to revolutionize healthcare. The partnership with Facebook enhances this vision, with Jio’s focus on 5G and high-speed broadband aiming to empower every Indian village.
Ambani’s emphasis on digital transformation extends to the fields of education and healthcare. He envisions leveraging technology to bridge the gap in access to quality education, particularly by connecting all schools and universities. This initiative has the potential to reach 200 million children and young adults in the coming decades. Additionally, Ambani aims to improve India’s talent pool by 10X within a 10-year timeframe through technology-enabled education. He believes that technology can create a better India and world by democratizing access to education. In terms of healthcare, Ambani sees technology as a means to revolutionize healthcare services and promote proactive health measures. He mentions collaborating with authorities to provide technology tools and infrastructure for vaccination programs in the near future.
Ambani credits his father for instilling essential values that have shaped his entrepreneurial journey. He emphasizes the significance of courage, self-belief, empathy, creativity, relationships, trust, and loyalty in building a successful business. Ambani believes that entrepreneurs should have the courage and self-belief to take risks and learn from failures and successes. He highlights the importance of empathy in understanding and considering the feelings of others. Creativity is essential for finding innovative solutions, as exemplified by Reliance’s initial public offering (IPO) in the 1980s. Ambani emphasizes the value of fostering relationships, trust, and loyalty among employees, creating a family-like atmosphere within Reliance. He also mentions that Reliance’s founder’s vision of investing in future-oriented businesses remains a guiding principle for the company.
Zuckerberg’s Reflections on Communication and Technology
Zuckerberg reflected on the evolution of communication technology, emphasizing the role of technology in connecting people and supporting small businesses, especially during the pandemic. He acknowledged the advancements in sharing information, from text to photos and videos, facilitated by improved connectivity.
Zuckerberg emphasizes that Facebook’s mission is to empower people to connect with friends, family, and communities. He recognizes that the innate desire to connect is universal. Facebook has enabled hundreds of millions of people to come online, particularly in India, highlighting the country’s vibrancy and entrepreneurial spirit. Zuckerberg discusses the significance of financial inclusion through digital payments and mentions the recent launch of WhatsApp payments in India, facilitated by the UPI system. He commends India for being the first country to implement a system like UPI, recognizing its leadership in promoting digital inclusivity. Zuckerberg expresses his optimism for India and hopes for continued collaboration with the country to benefit hundreds of millions of people. He envisions India’s policies and Facebook’s innovations expanding globally.
India’s Digital Promise and Global Inspiration
India, under the leadership of visionaries like Zuckerberg and Ambani, is not just evolving its digital infrastructure but also setting a global example. The nation’s achievements in digital innovation, particularly in creating public goods like UPI, serve as an inspiration for other countries. The partnership between Facebook and Jio, therefore, represents more than just a business collaboration; it’s a symbol of India’s burgeoning role as a digital architect of the future, promising to revolutionize connectivity, commerce, and community engagement on a global scale.
The partnership between Facebook and Jio has catalyzed digital transformation in India, transforming them into value creation platforms for small businesses. Mukesh Ambani emphasized the democratizing impact of technology, empowering small businesses and individuals through wealth creation and equitable distribution. This economic empowerment has spurred employment opportunities, business growth, and India’s aspiration to become one of the top three global economies. Reliance’s focus on 5G and broadband will accelerate digital transformation, bridging the connectivity gap and enabling access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.
Individuals now have the ability to share ideas and access information online, which was previously exclusive to larger organizations. This democratizing effect empowers and benefits individuals, leading to a more prosperous society. India, being the world’s largest democracy, plays a critical role in leading this digital transformation. Empowering individuals aligns with both Zuckerberg’s and Ambani’s vision for India’s future prosperity.
Zuckerberg emphasizes the significance of technological advancements in shaping the future. The internet’s initial focus on text-based communication has evolved to photo-sharing. With the advent of 4G and 5G networks, video is becoming the primary sharing medium due to its richer and more immersive nature. Zuckerberg’s vision focuses on developing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to enhance human connection. VR allows users to immerse themselves in an experience, fostering a sense of presence and fostering deeper connections. AR can create realistic digital objects, further bridging the gap between the physical and digital fields.
Zuckerberg believes that VR and AR will revolutionize work and connectivity. These technologies will empower individuals to work and connect from anywhere, fostering a more flexible and inclusive work
environment. Zuckerberg expresses gratitude for Ambani’s partnership, recognizing his positive impact on improving the lives of hundreds of millions of Indians. He admires Ambani’s hunger to revolutionize and improve industries.
Zuckerberg anticipates a future where advances made in India will be shared globally, benefiting people worldwide. He reiterates his appreciation for Ambani’s partnership and their shared commitment to serving the people of India. Ambani expresses his gratitude to Zuckerberg for sharing his vision of the future. He eagerly anticipates the day when Facebook’s technology will allow him to virtually experience events like a cricket match in Australia while remaining in Mumbai. Ambani commends Zuckerberg’s leadership and digital architecture for making this vision a reality.
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