No visit by a top corporate leader to the National Capital is complete without meeting the powers that be. Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s visit was no different.

Pichai started his day with ‘Google for India’, addressing app developers and business partners and showcasing the company’s strategy. He was also taking forward what he had committed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September — Internet for all.

While the morning session saw Pichai giving a 15-minute talk to those who matter for his business, the latter part of the day saw the rather relaxed Google chief calling on the ministers for IT & Telecom and Railways.

Pichai discussed issues such as free public Wi-Fi in railway stations, Internet access for women, and expanding headcount in India.

After his meeting with IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Pichai said: “We are very excited as the Minister has talked about working together for rural BPOs. We are also keen to look at ‘Internet Saathi’ along with the Common Service Centres (CSCs).”

He said that the company was focussed on expanding the base of Google products to offer them in more Indian languages. With 500 million users expected to come online in India by the end of 2017 , the company is working to make its products work better for Indians.

Addressing the media, Prasad said: “Internet Saathi, whereby they want to reach about three-lakh villages, to train Indian women in particular through their mobile Internet, is a good concept and I have directed CSCs to become a partner in it. For their Loon project, in principle, we have agreed for a final project in partnership with BSNL.”

“Certain issues of security etc, and harmony with the department of Civil Aviation have to be done,” Prasad added.

Pichai will meet the Prime Minister and the President on Thursday after his chat session (#AskSundar) with students at Shri Ram College of Commerce.

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