Obama to be seen in India a lot more next year

US President Barack Obama today said he might visit India next year "if invited" for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES). GES is a personal initiative of Obama to bring entrepreneurs from across the globe on one platform.

"You know, I'll try to stop by, if I'm invited," Obama said in his address to GES at Stanford University in California.

After meeting Obama at the White House early this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India would host the next GES. The Obama Administration has thanked India for continuing Obama's legacy. During his visit, Modi had invited Obama to India. Obama is the first American president to visit India twice.

"It is really fitting that we are all gathered here for this, the final gathering of the GES under President Obama. But it will continue, and as you all know, will take place next year in India," the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, had said in his address to the summit yesterday.

The first GES was held in the US in 2010 thereafter it has been hosted by Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Morocco and Kenya. Over 700 entrepreneurs and more than 300 investors from 170 countries are attending the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit. India has also sent a large contingent.

A senior administration official said Obama is unlikely to visit India in the remaining seven months of his presidency, but did not rule out his travel along with that of the First Lady after they leave the White House next year.