Social networking major Facebook Wednesday announced that it will organise its first-ever India Startup Day in the country on October 9. According to a report by news agency IANS, the California-based social networking company will at the event celebrate Indian stories of founders and leaders applying technology to solve current and future societal problems. The event has been organised keeping in mind India’s skyrocketing and thriving startup ecosystem. “The Indian Startup Day event will also witness some prominent business, policy leaders along with aspiring startups discussing opportunities and challenges of the new generation of entrepreneurs,” the social media giant said in a statement.

“As the third largest startup destination globally and with one of the fastest-growing base of developers in the world, India is on a journey to usher in rapid advances in technology and economic growth,” the statement from Facebook read further. The Mark Zuckerberg-led company is already working with the startup ecosystem in the country, empowering businesses across industries through several programmes and initiatives.

Recently, Facebook appointed chief executive officer of Star India's over-the-top video service Hotstar, as its India's vice-president and managing director. Mohan’s appointment came after company’s one years search for India head. The post has been lying vacant since Umang Bedi quit last October.

As the new India Head for the social media giant, Mohan will be accountable for aligning teams and driving Facebook’s overall strategy in the country. This is reportedly a paradigm shift for Facebook India in terms of having a senior leader reporting into Menlo Park and not the Asia Pacific.

“Mohan will be responsible for driving the company’s continued investment in India. He will lead a senior leadership team in India that will strengthen Facebook’s relationships with people, businesses, and government and intensify the company’s efforts to help people in India connect with the people and things they care about most,”Facebook said in a media statement.