US president Barack Obama met 12 leaders from technology companies yesterday to discuss ways to work together to promote investment in US innovation and private sector job growth.
The meeting included Apple chief executive Steve Jobs, on medical leave from the company he co-founded, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Google's Eric Schmidt, Oracle chief Larry Ellison and other members of the Silicon Valley elite for talks with Mr Obama at a venture capitalist's sprawling estate outside San Francisco.
"The president specifically discussed his proposals to invest in research and development and expand incentives for companies to grow and hire, along with his goal of doubling exports over five years to support millions of American jobs," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
Mr Obama's two-day West Coast visit was aimed at promoting technological innovation to help boost the struggling US economy and reduce stubbornly high unemployment - considered crucial to his 2012 re-election chances.
"The group also discussed the importance of new investments in education," Mr Carney said, adding that Obama expressed a desire to keep the dialogue going.
The meeting was also part of Mr Obama's efforts to mend fences with the US business community after his Democrats were routed in the November congressional elections, and garner support for a $3.7 trillion budget proposal released this week and already facing stiff Republican resistance.
Reuters