India’s Prime Minister Modi is traveling to the U.S. His 5-day visit presents an opportunity for a fresh start. It follows last year’s arrest and strip search of an Indian diplomat in New York City on visa fraud charges. CCTV America’s Ritu Dixit has more on the Prime Minister’s trip to United States.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a landmark action-packed trip to the United States on September 26th. A busy trip that includes 50 engagements over his 100-hours of stay, with a clear objective -to provide impetus to Indo -U.S. bilateral relations and woo the American business community. And that aspiration was clear as he launched an ambitious campaign on the eve of his departure to United States. Called “Make in India,” the project aims at establishing the country as a manufacturing hub by making it easier for companies to do business. It also aims to cut red tape and promote Indian businesses abroad. The event was also conducted in all the Indian embassies abroad.

He will also be addressing the United Nations General Assembly, and later attend an annual festival of global Citizen Initiative at Central Park, visit ground zero to pay tributes to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The highlight of Modi’s U.S trip is likely to be his address to the huge Indian-American community at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. Thousands of Indian-Americans are expected to attend this event. Top bankers from Wall Street and business executives from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Pepsi, MasterCard and Microsoft, to name a few, are expected to be in attendance.

After visiting New York, the Prime Minister will see President Barrack Obama in Washington, D.C. The meeting is expected to foster improved cooperation between the two countries on a wide variety of issues ranging from infrastructure, health, immigration and education to technology and defense.

Interestingly, the United States had refused Narendra Modi a visa when he was the Chief Minister for the state of Gujarat for his alleged inaction during the communal riots in the year 2002. However, the Supreme court of India had subsequently exonerated Modi from any role in the riots. Obama administration has recently reversed its stand and welcomed Modi to the White House soon after he became the Prime Minister. Several senior U.S. officials from Obama administration have met Modi in New Delhi after he assumed office.

Modi is looking to put the past behind him and recharge relations with the U.S. His visit which is viewed as both symbolic and substantive will add momentum and energy to India-U.S. strategic partnership.