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Investors expect Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come back to power and they also have confidence in the reform and business-oriented government, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) president and chief executive officer Mukesh Aghi has said.
“Everybody also feels that this time, the elections are more predictable. And that predictable results sends investors coming to India more and more because they feel that the current government is very reform-oriented, is very business-oriented,” the head of the top US-based India-centric business and strategic group told Moneycontrol.
As many as 96 seats are being voting for in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 13. The final and the seventh round of voting will be held on June 1 and votes counted on June 4.
There never has been a dispute over power transition in India once results are declared. “So, you will see the momentum (in investments) picking up regardless of whoever comes in, but at this moment, everybody thinks that Prime Minister Modi will come back,” Aghi said.
Indian elections have become a point of interest not only in the US but also in the rest of the world due to the high voter turnout of 65-70 percent compared to the US’ 50 percent, Aghi said. The high volume of voters is also impressive.
“I think everybody looks at India’s election as a role model and so they feel that India is a good place to invest,” Aghi said.
From one election to the other, Aghi said regardless of whether President Joe Biden secures another term or his predecessor, Donald Trump, returns, the impact on the US-India relationship would be marginal.
“Regardless of who comes in, the relationship between the two countries will steadily be positive and move in the right direction,” he said.
Immigration Reforms
Speaking on immigration reforms, Aghi said the US Congress has to improve processes, so that the world’s largest economy can attract more quality talent. He added the US embassy and the state department are deploying more resources, so that the wait time for visa appointments can be reduced to 30 days from over 200 days.
His remarks come amid concerns over growing waiting time for visa and its adverse impact on talent acquisition. The US embassy issued a record one million visas by March-end in the last 12 months, signalling a positive development in visa processing.
“They’re trying to put in more resources that keep on improving… so these guys are really working hard,” Aghi said.
He also highlighted that the reforms are vital for the US in addressing the shortage of nearly a million software engineers and fulfilling the demand for talent in high-tech sectors.
To attract top-tier talent, Aghi underscored the significance of streamlining visa processes, particularly for Indian IT professionals reliant on H1B visas.
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa issued to recruit overseas workers that allows US companies to hire professionals for jobs that require technical expertise.
IT chiefs on board
Aghi said the recent inclusion of senior executives of IT service companies on the USISPF board is aimed at synergy between American and Indian firms.
Infosys Chief Executive Officer Salil Parekh and his Cognizant counterpart, S Ravi Kumar, joined the USISPF board this year.
“The reason we brought in two large services companies is because both are large exporters of services and human talent to the rest of the world,” Aghi said. “You’ll see more board members coming in from that perspective
Washington, Jan 26 (PTI) India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu has been one of the leading architects of the flourishing India-US relationship, the chief of a top India-centric American business and advocacy group has said.
In his remarks at a farewell reception hosted in honour of the outgoing Indian envoy here on Thursday, Mukesh Aghi, the president and CEO of US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF), said Sandhu’s resume of achievements remains long and impressive.
“Ambassador Sandhu has been one of the leading architects of this relationship, which stands at its apex from the deep synergy in clean energy, education partnership, space collaboration, defence, and technology ties,” said at the farewell organised by the USISPF.
Sandhu, 61, retires from the foreign service after 35 years of diplomatic career this month.
However, when Ambassador Sandhu took the helm in Washington in February 2020, ominous times were about to upend the economies and suspend daily lives, Aghi said, adding that a cataclysmic pandemic meant new challenges even for a veteran diplomat.
Sandhu steered through COVID-19, helping Indian students return home, working through visa backlogs for the diaspora, and strengthening vaccine diplomacy between the two countries.
“A post-Covid-era saw the onset of Ambassador Sandhu helping lead the first in-principal Quad Summit in Washington, the restart of the Trade Policy Forum, and then the onset of the I2U2, IPEF, consolidating bilateral ties in multilateral settings,” he said.
The I2U2 is a grouping of Israel, India, the United Arab Emirates and the United States to deepen technological and private sector collaboration in the region and tackle transnational challenges in six focus areas: water, energy, transportation, space, health and food security.
The United States launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) along with countries like India, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to advance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness for participant economies.
“Today, the Indo-Pacific is a priority as Ambassador Sandhu has overseen new defence partnerships, from iCET to INDUS-X, to drone transfers to jet engine manufacturing deals, from semiconductors to supply chains, ushering in a new chapter in critical technology,” Aghi said.
The highlights of Sandhu’s tenure, he said, would be the historic state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden’s first visit to India as Commander-in-chief for a momentous G20 summit, and also organising former president Donald Trump’s maiden visit to the country.
However, one must remember that the relationship was not always smooth sailing, he noted.
“Sandhu’s perspicacity was evinced early on, during his first Washington stint as the First Secretary (Political) as he formed crucial relations on Capitol Hill, with both Democrat and Republican lawmakers, during a time of sanctions from the Clinton Administration,” he said.
“Today, the relationship is truly bipartisan, and the India Caucus and the Samosa Caucus, are in deep admiration of Ambassador Sandhu’s diplomatic efforts to steer the relationship from choppy waters then to the pristine seas now,” Aghi said.
His second stint in Washington was as second in command to S Jaishankar, as then DCM Sandhu and Ambassador Jaishankar, wrote the beginning chapters of Prime Minister Modi’s engagement with the United States, he noted.
“But more important than the dossiers, visits, and agreements, have been the intangible bonds of friendship that Ambassador Sandhu has forged with the diaspora. From young students to veteran business leaders, from entrepreneurs to titans, from cultural communities and caucuses, the diaspora across the US has at least one Ambassador Sandhu story,” he said.
“Historians will note that he changed the nature of the relationship, forged new connections, strengthened the strategic partnership, and above all remained affable and humble in challenging and celebratory times,” Aghi said.
Ashley Tellis, a top American expert on India, in his remarks, said that Sandhu has been an insidious contributor to this relationship because he understood right from the beginning how important this partnership is for the future of both countries.
“In his last tenure here in Washington, he had to deal with a very complex environment in terms of our bilateral relationship. But the fact that we have still managed to stay the course and move this relationship ever upward is a great tribute to you, Taranjit,” Tellis said.
Eminent Indian American defence expert Vikram Singh said Sandhu has been a steward of this relationship for an entire generation. “For those of us who have been involved, it’s been one of the best parts of our jobs trying to advance this relationship to have you as our partner. You are sought, kind of irreplaceable because you have this long span of history of the period of growth, dynamism, and transformation of the US-India partnership,” Singh said.
In his remarks, Sandhu recollected the words of Prime Minister Modi at an event hosted by USISPF in the city in which he said that the US-India partnership is not just for convenience, but for conviction, compassion and of shared commitment for a better future. “So our relationship touches the people. It is for development,” Sandhu said.
On the much anticipated electric vehicle (EV) major Tesla’s entry into India, Aghi, who was in India briefly to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit recently, said that there is no discussion on the same as Tesla is awaiting India’s EV policy and that the company’s entry would involve a strong chip manufacturing ecosystem and not just a battery ecosystem. Edited excerpts:
India and the United States (US) have sandboxed the controversy around the alleged plot to assassinate Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as both countries are geopolitically aligned — with most US firms such as Apple Inc looking at India to de-risk their supply chain, Mukesh Aghi, President and Chief Executive Officer of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum told Divya A and Ravi Dutta Mishra.
On the much anticipated electric vehicle (EV) major Tesla’s entry into India, Aghi, who was in India briefly to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Summit recently, said that there is no discussion on the same as Tesla is awaiting India’s EV policy and that the company’s entry would involve a strong chip manufacturing ecosystem and not just a battery ecosystem. Edited excerpts:
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The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) hosted a closed door roundtable discussion featuring Ambassador Katherine Tai, providing a platform for member companies specializing in collaborations with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Notable participants included public policy professionals from industry leaders such as Amazon, Meta, Coca-Cola, WinzO Games, JCI, Amway, T-Second, and Educational Testing Services (ETS), along with representatives from their affiliated SMEs.
These companies showcased programs tailored to cater to the unique needs of the SME community. Some participants presented initiatives directly supporting SMEs, while others emphasized their extensive networks and mentorship programs designed to empower SMEs within distinct industry ecosystems.
The roundtable, enriched by the presence of prominent women leaders and entrepreneurs such as Ms. Saumya Rathore (Co-Founder, WinzO Games), Ms. Hoofrish Krishnamurthy (Co- Founder, Gifts of Love), and Ms. Natasha Jog (Head of Public Policy, Instagram), underscored the evolving role of women in the Indian SME ecosystem. The discussion highlighted the significant contributions of women leaders in driving innovation, job creation, and fostering diversity, thereby shaping a more inclusive and dynamic business environment.
Throughout the dialogue with Ambassador Tai, the discussions delved into the evolving needs of SMEs, including startups, and the inherent challenges associated with entering new markets and participating in global trade. The collaborative discourse shed light on innovative approaches and programs implemented by member companies to support SMEs and startups.
The session also explored potential initiatives and policy changes related to U.S. government assistance to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India, spearheaded by Ambassador Katherine Tai. The focus was on fostering collaboration between MSMEs and addressing key challenges in the dynamic landscape of global trade.
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) on Tuesday announced its association as a partner organisation with the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 from January 10th to 12th, 2024, in Gandhinagar.
“USISPF is honoured to lead a delegation comprising over 35 Fortune American companies, including Salesforce, Abbott, Blackstone, HSBC, UPS, Micron, Cisco, SHRM, and others. These companies also have plans to increase their investments in Gujarat. The delegation will be led by Lal Karsanbhai, President and CEO of Emerson, and co-led by USISPF President & CEO Dr. Mukesh Aghi,” the USIPF stated in an official release.
At the summit, the focus areas will include leveraging India’s burgeoning momentum in the hi-tech manufacturing space, particularly in avenues of semiconductors and chip manufacturing, as well as critical areas of the energy transition, chemicals and industrial manufacturing, aerospace, and defence.
“The companies are also eagerly exploring opportunities to build on the flagship Gujarat International Finance Tec-Cit (GIFT) City’s economic landscape,” the release added.
As part of the engagement at the summit, USISPF will host two insightful panel discussions on January 11 on the themes of the US-India Innovation Handshake and US-India Partnership.
In the US-India Innovation Handshake, the USISPF will focus on accelerating the Start-Up Ecosystem in partnership with iCreate, this panel will explore avenues to catalyse innovation and foster collaboration in the vibrant start-up ecosystem of both countries.
Additionally, under the US-India Partnership theme, the USISPF will explore Opportunities for Manufacturing and Global Value Chains. This panel will delve into the vast opportunities for collaboration in manufacturing and global value chains, showcasing the potential for growth and mutual benefit.
The president and CEO of USISPF, Mukesh Aghi, said, “It’s wonderful to be back in Gujarat and an honour for us at USISPF to lead a delegation of American companies to invest and contribute to the development of Gujarat, a state with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. Vibrant Gujarat Summit is a flagship program of the Government of Gujarat, and an investor summit whose success was personally spearheaded by Prime Minister Modi during his Chief Ministerial days and it’s commendable how far the summit has come in little over two decades.”
“The tenth edition accentuates the development and socio-economic growth in the western Indian state that epitomizes India’s entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude. Today, India is the fifth-largest economy and the fastest-growing major economy in the world, as investors remain optimistic about India’s growth at a time of global headwinds and de-risking supply chains,” he added.
The president and CEO of Emerson, Lal Karsanbhai, said, “I am honored to lead this distinguished delegation from the United States to the Vibrant Gujarat summit. Gujarat has emerged as a beacon of economic growth and innovation, and it is a privilege to witness first-hand the collaborative opportunities that exist between our nations. As we engage in discussions and explore partnerships, we look forward to fostering stronger ties that will not only benefit our businesses but also contribute to the global economic landscape.”
The participation of American companies will strengthen economic cooperation with the state of Gujarat and further deepen the US-India strategic and bilateral partnership.
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), formed in 2017, is an independent non-profit, non-governmental, and non-partisan organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices across both countries. Through its network of 400+ global companies, USISPF bridges the gap between business and government and fosters closer public-private sector partnerships across all facets of the economy and society in the United States and India.
The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit was started in 2003 when he was the state’s chief minister.
The tenth edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit will be held from January 10 to 12. The theme for this year’s event is ‘Gateway to the Future’. The summit will celebrate ’20 Years of Vibrant Gujarat as the Summit of Success’.
The event, this year, will feature 34 partner countries and 16 partner organisations. The Ministry of Development of the North-Eastern Region will also utilise the Vibrant Gujarat platform to showcase investment opportunities in the Northeast.
The summit will feature various events including seminars and conferences on globally relevant topics such as Industry 4.0, Technology and Innovation, Sustainable Manufacturing, Green Hydrogen, Electric Mobility and Renewable Energy and Transition towards Sustainability.
In the Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show, which kicked off in the state capital on Tuesday, a range of products equipped with world-class, state-of-the-art technology are being showcased. E-mobility, startups, MSMEs, Blue Economy, Green Energy and Smart Infrastructure are some of the focus sectors of the Trade Show.
Earlier, on December 1, PM Modi met the UAE President on the sidelines of the COP-28 Summit and invited him to the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
Washington, Thursday, January 11, 2024:
A high-level delegation from the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), led by Dr. Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO, participated in a constructive roundtable meeting with the Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendra Patel, on the sidelines of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.
Comprising of 35 Fortune American companies, the delegation delved into meaningful discussions regarding investment opportunities within the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) and International Financial Services Centre (GIFT IFSC). Additionally, they explored avenues for collaborative ventures with key stakeholders in Gujarat’s major industrial, business, IT, and FinTech sectors.
Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Patel expressed enthusiasm about the ongoing collaboration between USISPF and Vibrant Gujarat, emphasizing the consistent efforts since 2017 in leading high-level industry delegations to the summit. Highlighting the significance of the US-India relationship, he noted on X (formerly Twitter) that the USA remains Gujarat’s major export destination. The Chief Minister mentioned that more than 120 American companies have established their base in Gujarat currently. He stated, “Had a fruitful meeting with the delegation of USISPF. Showcased the potential of GIFT IFSCA and the investment opportunities in this smart city.”
Dr. Mukesh Aghi, President & CEO of USISPF, expressed, “It’s an honor for USISPF to lead a delegation of American companies to invest and contribute to the development of Gujarat, a state that epitomizes India’s entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude. Our engagement at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit reaffirms our commitment to fostering economic ties and exploring avenues for mutual growth and development between the United States and Gujarat.”
The meeting highlights USISPF’s ongoing dedication to boosting US-Gujarat economic ties and unlocking avenues for shared prosperity.
About the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF): The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership in Washington, D.C., and in New Delhi, USISPF is the trusted partner for businesses, non-profit organizations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States.
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Ankit Jain
Akshobh Giridharadas
The distinguished panelists explored the convergence of technology, investigating how the synergy of technological advancements and collaborations can serve as pivotal drivers for fostering innovation and constructing vibrant ecosystems.
Panellists:
- Parvesh Mittal, Managing Director-India, Howden,
- Anand Jayachandran, Director – Government Engagement, Mastercard,
- Dr. Kiranmai Dutt Pendyala, Corporate Vice President – Human Resources, UPS India Technology Centre
Moderated by: NSN Murty, Partner & Leader, Government & Public Services, Deloitte
Special thanks to our panelists for their valuable insights that will shape the future of technology-driven economic growth.
We had the honour of hosting the USA country session at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024. Our focus was on exploring investment opportunities in Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu’s business-friendly environment has attracted investments from several U.S. companies. During the session, we highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and partnerships between U.S. companies, research institutions, and their counterparts in Tamil Nadu. This collaborative effort aims to significantly contribute to the growth of India’s economy and further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
Panellists:
- Christopher Hodges, U.S. Consul General, Chennai
- Bhuvan Anandakrishnan, Vice-President, Caterpillar
- Kuntal Kumar Verma, Chief Manufacturing Officer, First Solar
- Kami Viswanathan, President – Middle East, Indian Subcontinentand Africa, FedEx
Moderator:
Nivedita Mehra, Managing Director, US-India Strategic Partnership
Forum (USISPF)
Thanks to our members and audience for joining the session!
John Chambers, chairman of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), on Friday (December 22) expressed unwavering optimism about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the year 2024.
In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18’s Parikshit Luthra, Chambers believes that AI will be the most groundbreaking technology in history, akin to the combined impact of the internet and cloud computing.
He emphasised that a close collaboration between India and the United States can lead this global shift, benefiting businesses and citizens alike and setting a model for the rest of the world.
The relationship between India and the US has moved in a positive direction ranging from trade to defence and the two nations have shown a sense of deep understating of each other’s differences, the head of a top India-centric business and strategic group has said. Mukesh Aghi, CEO of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) said that there is more alignment between the two countries when it is looked at from the geopolitical QUAD perspective.
“I think in every aspect we (India-US relationship) have moved in a positive direction. You look at trade, which has gone up. You look at the military exercises, we’re doing more and more of those. We also have signed a lot of agreements with the US, especially in defence and space. We have agreed to repair the ships in our ports,” Aghi said on Wednesday.
“When you look at it from the geopolitical QUAD perspective, there’s more alignment between the two countries,” Aghi told PTI in an interview.
Mukesh Aghi, President & CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), has underscored the flourishing ties between the United States and India, shedding light on “bullish” sentiments of US investors on India. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Aghi stated, ” relationship has gone in a very positive direction, in a win-win fashion for both countries. you have to understand that the relationship is deep, much broader, and much more strategic between India and the United States”.
Highlighting the changing dynamics of global supply chains, Aghi noted, “US companies are looking at de-risking supply chain from China and India becomes a primary source from their perspective.” Highlighting the significant participation of US companies in Vibrant Gujarat in January, Aghi projected a continued growth in investments, highlighting, “You have US companies creating almost three and a half million jobs in India which are High Tech, High End paying jobs.”
He also spoke on President Biden not being able to attend India’s Republic Day, the Nikhil Gupta case etc.
Nita Ambani receives Global Leadership Award from US-India Strategic Partnership Forum
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) on Sunday (October 29) awarded Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, with the 2023 Global Leadership Award for Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Sharing the same, USISPF wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), “USISPF honours Ms Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of @ril_foundation with the Leadership Award for Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility 2023. Ms. Ambani has been at the forefront of women’s empowerment, children’s education, promoting Indian arts and sports.”
In her award acceptance speech on stage, Nita Ambani said, “Today, I accept this award with humility and gratitude on behalf of my entire team. I represent the beating heart of Reliance, our beacon of hope and empowerment – Reliance Foundation, through which we have touched the lives of over 71 million people. At Reliance, doing good and giving back has always been a way of life. Long before CSR became a norm, Reliance has been fulfilling our CMR, our Corporate Moral Responsibility. It has now transformed into our philosophy of WE CARE. We care for the planet. We care for humanity. And we care for our nation.”
Applauding USISPF for their work, she added, “I also take this opportunity to convey my deep appreciation to USISPF and its leadership for being a strong bridge in deepening the natural bonds between India and the US. In just over six years, the Forum has strengthened people-to-people and business-to-business ties between India and US.”
Dr Mukesh Aghi, USISPF President and CEO, congratulated Ambani on her achievement and said, “We are delighted to award Nita M. Ambani for her tireless efforts to enrich the lives of many Indians. Nita M. Ambani is someone who believes that the work is never done and that there is so much more left to accomplish.”
Today, Reliance Foundation also tweeted regarding the same on X and wrote, “We are honoured to announce that our Founder & Chairperson, Mrs. Nita M. Ambani, has been awarded the prestigious 2023 Global Leadership Award for Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).”
The recent G20 Summit in New Delhi emphasized climate action, energy security, climate finance, and the transition to a clean energy economy.
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and ReNew, working together with the Consulate General of India in New York, hosted a special meeting during Climate Week 2023 in New York City. They talked about the “US-India Climate Partnership and Emerging Opportunities.”
Key attendees included Geoffrey Pyatt from the US State Department, Ms Enoh Ebong from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), Ms Anjali Kaur from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Reta Jo Lewis from the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Randhir Jaiswal (the Indian Consul General in New York), Dr. Mukesh Aghi (President and CEO of USISPF), Sumant Sinha (Founder, Chairman, and CEO of ReNew), Brad Crabtree (Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy), and Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj (Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations).
This event brought together business leaders from the clean energy industry and government officials at the Indian Consulate in New York City. They discussed exciting opportunities for the US-India partnership in clean energy, research, and innovation.
During the event, they unveiled a report called “India’s global leadership on climate action.” This report launch was attended by Randhir Jaiswal, Mukesh Aghi, and Sumant Sinha, along with prominent government officials, industry leaders, and academics.
The United States and India are leading the global shift toward clean energy. They are cooperating in various areas such as energy supply chains, finance, business partnerships, and research and development.
One of the main goals discussed was helping countries and communities achieve their 2030 emissions reduction targets. These discussions build on the commitments made by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit in June 2023. India is taking a strong stance on climate change action, with Prime Minister Modi mentioning India’s progress in solar energy and natural farming at the G20 Summit.
The recent G20 Summit in New Delhi emphasized climate action, energy security, climate finance, and the transition to a clean energy economy. Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s role in addressing global crises and the challenges posed by geopolitical conflicts on energy prices.
Sumant Sinha, the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of ReNew, stressed the importance of global cooperation in tackling climate change. He praised India’s efforts in green hydrogen and carbon markets and the United States’ commitment to renewable energy and carbon capture research.
Randhir Jaiswal, India’s Consul General in New York, highlighted the significance of the US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) in achieving 2030 climate goals. He also noted India’s leadership in promoting green initiatives globally.
Mukesh Aghi, USISPF President and CEO, underlined the focus on hydrogen as a crucial energy source for global decarbonization. He mentioned the collaboration between Washington and New Delhi in supporting each other’s hydrogen missions and the positive impact on employment opportunities in India’s clean energy sector.
In essence, this event showcased the strong collaboration between the United States and India in addressing climate challenges and advancing clean energy solutions.
More information
https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-fueling-a-greener-future-us-india-partnership-for-clean-energy-and-climate-action-3251794/
At present, women make up for nearly half of India’s 95 crore registered voters but account for only 15% of lawmakers in Parliament and 10% in the state assemblies.
A bill to reserve one-third of the seats in the Lower House of India’s Parliament and state assemblies for women is a transformative piece of legislation and a push for gender parity and egalitarianism, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, USISPF president Mukesh Aghi also underlined the importance of having more women at the top of decision-making bodies in the world’s largest democracy.
The watershed bill received the Parliamentary nod on Thursday as Rajya Sabha voted unanimously in favour of it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the MPs for supporting the legislation and said once more women assume leadership roles and join the nation-building process, they will become a guarantee of the country’s bright future.
Aghi said, “This is a major step by the Indian government and the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in achieving gender equality and increased representation”. India was one of the first countries in the world to have a woman prime minister and has had two women presidents, he noted.
“In the world’s largest democracy and now the most populous nation in the world, it behoves to have more women in the highest echelons of decision-making bodies. This bill is a transformative piece of legislation and is a push for gender parity and egalitarianism”, he added.
At present, women make up for nearly half of India’s 95 crore registered voters but account for only 15% of lawmakers in Parliament and 10% in the state assemblies.
More information
https://www.bqprime.com/nation/indias-womens-reservation-bill-is-a-transformative-piece-of-legislation-usispf
JUNE 21, 2023
Today, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD) launched the IndiaU.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) to expand the strategic technology partnership and defense
industrial cooperation between our governments, businesses, and academic institutions. This initiative builds on a commitment by the U.S. and Indian National Security Advisors in January 2023 to launch an “Innovation
Bridge” to connect U.S. and Indian defense start-ups as part of the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). India’s Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX) and the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) are leading INDUS-X activities for MoD and DoD, respectively.
With support from our governments, closer cooperation between our private sectors and research institutions will catalyze innovation within our defense industrial bases. Through INDUS-X, we will strengthen ties between our defense industrial ecosystems to make them more innovative, accessible, and resilient.
At the two-day catalyst event, hosted by the U.S.-India Business Council at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, defense innovation stakeholders from across our governments, academic and research organizations, investors,
defense firms, technology incubators, industry associations, and other start-up enablers came together to develop ambitious initiatives to drive INDUS-X forward.
The below collaboration agenda outlines prospective actions for INDUS-X stakeholders to advance defense innovation between the United States and India. The agenda provides timelines and metrics to measure progress
in implementing collaboration initiatives envisioned under INDUS-X. INDUS-X stakeholders intend to advance this collaboration agenda through the following efforts:
Exploring the trajectory of the relationship in four key sectors: defense, global order, business and technology, and climate change.
As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his highly anticipated visit to Washington, the global stage is set for an important chapter in the India-U.S. relationship. As the United States deepens its Indo-Pacific engagement and India solidifies its regional prowess, the partnership between these democratic powerhouses has the potential to reshape the geopolitical chessboard. Against a backdrop of transformative changes, this pivotal moment prompts a question: What lies ahead for these two influential nations?
In this conversation-style piece, we bring together a group of accomplished experts, each illuminating a different facet of the complex tapestry that is India-U.S. relations. From shared concerns over global security to mutual interests in emerging technologies and sustainable development, our expert commentators dissect the intricate threads that bind these nations together – unraveling fresh prospects and critical challenges that await.
Elevating the Defense Partnership
–C. Raja Mohan
For nearly two decades and across many administrations, India and the United States have steadily expanded their bilateral strategic partnership. While much progress has been made in the last few years, Modi’s visit to Washington is expected to give the relationship “escape velocity,” in the words of a U.S. National Security Council official and Indo-Pacific coordinator. In boosting their bilateral cooperation amid a convergence of the two countries’ interests in Asia, the visit will focus on consolidating recent efforts to deepen ties in defense as well as the high-technology domain.
The last few weeks have seen intense consultations between the two sides and a series of high-profile visits to finalize the outcomes of the talks between Modi and U.S. President Joe Biden on June 22. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited New Delhi earlier in June. India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra were in Washington in January and June of this year, respectively.
A framework for cooperation in advanced technologies, a road map for defense industrial cooperation, and an agreement for expanding strategic trade are now in place. Modi and Biden have been pressing their respective bureaucracies to overcome the many regulatory obstacles to more productive collaboration in these areas. Agreements to facilitate the manufacture of jet engines for Indian fighter aircraft by General Electric and to promote cooperation in critical and emerging technologies are expected to figure prominently among the deliverables from Modi’s state visit to Washington.
India, which could not access U.S. weapons during the Cold War, has bought $20 billion worth of arms over the last two decades. The armed forces in India and the United States engage in extensive bilateral military exercises and minilateral ones with the four partners in the Quad Forum – Australia, India, Japan, and the United States. The ambition is to look beyond arms purchases and facilitate the production of weapons in India through collaboration between defense firms in the two countries.
The incentive for the United States is helping India reduce its historical dependence on Russia for its military supplies. For New Delhi, it is about fulfilling Modi’s goal to turn India from the world’s largest importer of weapons into a major producer of weapons. Such collaboration will also help India bridge the massive gap in military capabilities with China with strong support from the United States. Both New Delhi and Washington have a strong interest in stabilizing the Asian balance of power and coping with the geopolitical churn triggered by China’s rise and Beijing’s assertiveness in Asia.
Navigating the Global Order
–Manjari Chatterjee Miller
The India-U.S. partnership has been transformed from a tense relationship into one of expanding cooperation across sectors. Although many, particularly in the United States, had hoped for a close partnership for years, few would have predicted the extent of the transformation in the relationship. India and the United States now collaborate on security challenges, defense, intelligence consultations, military exercises, health, disaster preparedness, emerging technologies, and even education. Both countries have concerns about China’s rise, contributing to a shared sense of urgency about the global order if China were to become the next superpower.
However, important challenges to the relationship remain. The United States worries about India’s commitment to the norms of the current global order and its perceived reluctance to rock the geopolitical boat. India’s reliance on Russian military imports and oil (Russia has displaced Iraq as India’s top oil supplier), and its reluctance to unambiguously condemn Russia in the Ukraine war, remain thorns. India’s position in the event of an escalation or even conflict in the Taiwan Strait is also ambiguous. The idea of mutual defense, a key plank of many of the United States’ bilateral partnerships, is unthinkable for the Indian government.
The state of Indian democracy and reports of the Indian government violating the civil liberties of minorities and journalists are another cause for U.S. concern. While the Biden administration is unlikely to make any public criticism – as made evident in Modi’s upcoming state visit – members of Congress may not have such inhibitions. Modi is set to address a joint meeting of Congress on June 22.
From India’s perspective, the Indian government was anxious, if not publicly critical, about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and what seemed to be a pivot away from important issues, such as Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism. India also worries about the divisions in U.S. politics and what next year’s presidential election could portend for the United States’ performance on the world stage and its commitment to its partners. U.S. immigration policy also poses a problem. Legal pathways of immigration for Indian citizens, a highly skilled source of labor for the United States, have run into myriad issues, including absurdly long wait times for visas. The India-U.S. trade relationship is also narrowly focused and hampered by Indian protectionism.
Overall, India sees itself as having a large stake in the success of the India-U.S. relationship – a drastic change from its past attitude – and the United States sees India as one of its most valuable partners today. This trajectory is unlikely to change in the near future.
Elevating Business and Technology Horizons
–Mukesh Aghi
Modi’s upcoming visit to Washington holds historical significance, as it marks the first state visit by an Indian prime minister to the United States in over a decade. The India-U.S. strategic partnership, which I believe is the most defining relationship of the 21st century, encompasses a wide range of shared concerns and priorities. These include deepening trade and commercial ties, strengthening defense and technology relations, joint clean energy efforts, and collaboration on health care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to these priorities, there is a growing focus on rebuilding and restoring disrupted supply chains in the aftermath of the pandemic. Many CEOs are now adopting a “China plus one” strategy, seeking to diversify their supply chains. This presents an opportunity for New Delhi to bolster its manufacturing economy through initiatives such as Make in India and the Production Linked Incentives (PLI) schemes. Recent instances of successful India-U.S. commercial cooperation include Air India’s purchase of over 200 Boeing aircraft, which carries significant implications for the commercial partnership and the American manufacturing sector.
Furthermore, Apple’s decision to establish its first retail store in India not only enhances the country’s attractiveness to other tech companies but also showcases its capability to produce cutting-edge technology and strengthen its manufacturing potential. This move is a crucial indication that companies are diversifying their supply chains away from China. Given the geopolitical dynamics surrounding semiconductors, New Delhi can also signal its readiness to become a hub for chip manufacturing and case manufacturing.
Modi’s government has made commendable efforts to improve the business environment and simplify tax laws in India, addressing previous constraints on American investors. Initiatives like the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and labor law reforms have helped foster a more investor-friendly climate. Earlier this year, the Washington-New Delhi strategic partnership was strengthened by the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), which encompasses areas such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, defense, innovation, space, advanced telecom, and semiconductors. An anticipated announcement during the visit includes a potential jet engine deal that would not only foster commercial success but also boost India’s defense capabilities.
The India-U.S. partnership has the potential to transform the lives of citizens and tackle critical challenges in climate, supply chains, healthcare, and technology in the 21st century. Modi’s upcoming state visit underscores the significance of this partnership.
Advancing Climate Action and Sustainability
–Farwa Aamer and Meera Gopal
In recent times, the imperative to combat climate change and foster sustainable development has thrust climate and energy issues to the forefront of the India-U.S. bilateral relationship. The convergence of interests, shared commitment to climate action, and complementarity in expertise and resources provide a solid foundation for robust collaboration between the two countries.
Initiatives like the India-U.S. Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE), launched in 2009, exemplify successful cooperation in research, technology transfer, and project implementation, fostering the growth of renewable energy deployment in India. Moreover, the 2021 Leaders Summit on Climate witnessed the launch of the India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership, reaffirming the two nations’ dedication to the Paris Agreement and their long-standing willingness to work jointly to achieve their ambitious climate and clean energy targets. In the lead-up to the state visit, the promise of India-U.S. joint action has been publicly reiterated by both countries at various levels of engagements.
This partnership presents multiple opportunities, including reducing methane emissions, advancing the green hydrogen agenda, supporting India’s planned emissions trading system, and collaborating on decarbonization solutions as needed. There are ample prospects to jointly advance capacity for strengthening climate resilience, including increased research and development, data availability, and tools to help national, state, and local officials in climate adaptation planning.
Modi is likely to maintain the focus on promoting the Mission Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) and securing financing for consumption reduction policies. Additionally, as the current president of the G-20, India has a unique opportunity to highlight its crucial role as the “voice” of the Global South for the West.
However, challenges persist, such as the necessity for international financing to achieve net-zero targets as well as the concerns surrounding an agreement on a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal. The United States can assist by facilitating access to funds for India’s ambitious goals and working toward an equitable national energy transition plan that considers the socioeconomic impact of the coal phase-out.
Modi’s state visit has the potential to strengthen joint climate strategies ahead of COP28 – which includes the first-ever Global Stocktake under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – in December 2023. By deepening the partnership on clean energy and climate action, both nations can achieve their global climate goals while fostering economic growth, job creation, and energy security. This collaboration will serve as a powerful model for innovation and sustainable development, setting the stage for the wider Global South to follow suit.
More information
https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/modi-comes-to-washington-prospects-and-challenges-for-india-us-relations/
Defense deals and tech ties underpin Modi’s visit to Washington.
“My dream is that in 2020, the two closest nations in the world will be India and the United States,” then-Sen. Joe Biden said on a visit to New Delhi in 2006. They may not be quite there yet, but Biden is doing everything to ensure they end up much closer—especially economically and militarily—after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits next week.
Washington is rolling out the red carpet for Modi, hosting him for a state dinner, the Biden administration’s third such visit after welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol within the past year. Modi will also address a joint session of Congress, his second time doing so as Indian prime minister.
It’s not just pomp and symbolism, however. The United States wants to bring India deeper into its manufacturing and defense orbit, with the added benefit of helping wean New Delhi’s military off Russia and U.S. supply chains off China. Although both sides have been tight-lipped on planned announcements, a number of expected agreements on semiconductor chips and fighter jet engines have been in the works for months, bolstered by visits to New Delhi by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in the weeks leading up to Modi’s trip. This week, the two sides reportedly sealed a deal for India to buy more than two dozen American drones.
“While I will not spill the beans, I can tell you that the ceremonial and substantive parts of the visit will fully complement each other and will be unparalleled,” Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s ambassador to Washington, said at a recent event.
The India-U.S. relationship hasn’t always been smooth sailing, and potential frictions remain, but the two countries have increasingly zeroed in on an arena where they can achieve symbiosis. “If you ask me what I would bet on the most, what is that one force multiplier for this relationship, it is tech,” Sandhu said. “It is the master key to unlock the real potential in the relationship.”
Officials from both sides have spent months laying the groundwork—and acronyms. An initiative on critical and emerging technology (iCET), launched in late January by Sullivan and his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, commits to cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space exploration, semiconductors, and defense technology. There has been more movement on the last two in particular: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal inked a bilateral semiconductor supply chain partnership in New Delhi in March, while Austin’s visit to New Delhi earlier this month yielded INDUS-X, or the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem, described by the Pentagon as a “new initiative to advance cutting-edge technology cooperation” between the two militaries.
The most significant developments are likely to take place on the defense front, particularly if recent discussions on jointly producing jet engines, long-range artillery, and military vehicles come to fruition next week, product of a yearslong rapprochement on sharing defense technology with India. “This is not just manufacturing in India, this is genuine tech transfer,” said Rudra Chaudhuri, director of New Delhi-based think tank Carnegie India. “That’s a big deal.”
In some ways, it is an opportunity for a marriage of convenience. About half of India’s military equipment is Russian-made, and although New Delhi has spent years trying to diversify that supply, Russia’s protracted war in Ukraine has increased the urgency of finding new bedfellows. Washington sees an opening.
“The one relationship which the U.S. has traditionally been wary of in closer defense ties with India has been the India-Russia partnership,” said Aparna Pande, director of the India Initiative at the Hudson Institute. “This is one chance where if India can be weaned away because of a lack of supply parts, problematic equipment, or Russia getting closer to China, [you can] maybe convince India to purchase more from the United States and U.S. partners and allies.”
China is another major source of mutual concern pushing Washington and New Delhi closer together. India’s relationship with China deteriorated earlier and far more dramatically, with military clashes on their shared border leading to an Indian purge of Chinese technology (including, notably, a TikTok ban) nearly three years ago. Chinese naval expansion into the Indian Ocean has also spooked India and reinforced the importance of the so-called Quad group of countries. The United States and its allies, meanwhile, are urgently trying to reorient and “friendshore” global tech supply chains to reduce dependence on China, which has spent years establishing itself as the world’s factory floor.
India presents a ready replacement in many ways, much of it stemming from its new status as the world’s most populous country. That means a large (and youthful) labor force, millions of whom are skilled engineers, and relatively low manufacturing costs that the Modi government is further bolstering with tax incentives under its signature “Make in India” program. Like China, India’s sheer size also presents a huge potential domestic market for U.S. companies, an advantage over other alternatives such as Vietnam and Mexico. If for decades dollars and cents determined the landscape of global technology production, geopolitics have become supreme.
More information
https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/06/15/india-united-states-tech-ties-biden-modi-visit-washington/
New York, Jun 13 (PTI) India and the US are realising that an equitable bilateral partnership is a win-win for both countries and their people, USISPF President and CEO Mukesh Aghi said. He also underlined that India is providing de-risking for US companies from China to manufacture in the country and is a growing market for American goods.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State Visit to the US next week, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) chief recalled that during his earlier address to a joint session of the Congress in 2016, the Indian leader had stressed for the two countries to overcome the hesitation of history.
“What we are seeing on both sides, we are basically burying the past — the 1998 nuclear sanction and other aspects. Both countries are realising that an equitable partnership is a win-win both for the people of India and the people of United States,” Aghi told PTI in an exclusive interview.
More information
https://www.ptinews.com/news/business/india-us-realising-equitable-bilateral-partnership-a-win-win-for-both-usispf-chief/588087.html
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the USA, President & CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Mukesh Aghi talked about how India has to deal with China and how technology can help India to have an upper hand in the diplomatic relationship.
India and the US are realizing that an equitable bilateral partnership is a win-win for both countries and their people, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) President and CEO Mukesh Aghi said.
He also underlined that India is providing de-risking for US companies from China to manufacture in the country and is a growing market for American goods.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State Visit to the US next week, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) chief recalled that during his earlier address to a joint session of the Congress in 2016, the Indian leader had stressed for the two countries to overcome the hesitation of history.
“What we are seeing on both sides, we are basically burying the past — the 1998 nuclear sanction and other aspects. Both countries are realising that an equitable partnership is a win-win both for the people of India and the people of the United States,” Aghi told PTI in an exclusive interview.
“But more than that, these are two democracies, which look at the international order and (are) trying to maintain that order itself. From a geopolitical perspective, economic perspective and from a technology perspective and people-to-people perspective, it is a partnership which is win-win for both sides,” he said.
Aghi described the current times as “exciting” for Indo-US relations, saying after 75 years of independence, India is on a development path.
“It is a win-win partnership where US companies are also one of the biggest investors in India,” he said, adding that American companies are now setting up research and development centres and moving into innovation centres in India
“What we’re seeing is the partnership is elevating. There is more and more trust happening. Yes, there’s maturity, we will have a disagreement,” he said, citing the example of India’s oil purchases from Russia.
“But both (sides) have accepted those issues and moved on looking at the bigger challenges and opportunities. The relationship is growing to bigger heights and you’ll see more success coming in as we move forward,” Aghi added.
Modi will be welcomed as a State Guest in Washington DC on June 22 by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. He will address a joint session of the US Congress the same day — the first Indian Prime Minister to be accorded the honour twice. Modi first addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress in June 2016.
The President and the First Lady will host Modi at a State Dinner on June 22.
Modi will address corporate leaders at a special event hosted by USISPF on June 23 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC that is expected to be attended by over 1,200 business leaders and the focus will be on India’s importance from an investment perspective, he said.
On the challenges and opportunities for the two countries, Aghi said, on the geopolitical aspect, India’s neighbour China “has taken a very aggressive and assertive posture towards India. It does not treat India as an equal partner”.
“India needs at least 20 years of economic growth moving forward and that means it needs (an) alignment to deal with the aggressive neighbour itself and that’s where the US comes in.
“From a US perspective, India’s one country which has stood up to China, eyeball-to-eyeball on its border, and has not blinked. It sends a strong message that India can stand up to Chinese aggression,” he said.
“What India is providing is a de-risking for US companies from China to manufacture in India and at the same time a growing market, which is going to procure American goods,” he said.
He noted that USISPF operates on two broad principles that the economic prosperity of India is good for the US and US companies. Secondly, a militarily-strong India is good for regional stability.
“That’s where Make in India becomes a very critical role in the defence sector and that’s where you’ll see the deliverables coming in from the US side,” Aghi added.
He referred to the expected announcement of the GE engine deal, India acquiring drones from the US and other aspects of defence procurement during Modi’s visit.
“Where the US used to be reluctant to provide some critical technologies to India, now they’re willing to transfer the technology, not just only sell, to India. To me that shows that the trust factor, the dependence factor has moved dramatically,” he said.
Terming trade as an opportunity between the two nations, Aghi stressed that India and the US should start thinking toward a goal of having a trillion-dollar trade between the two economies and added that it is “absolutely” doable.
“That’s where we both have to keep on working and you don’t need a trade deal. I think if you just open up the market and make the ease of doing business easier, you will see things moving much, much faster,” he said.
He noted that the challenge that the countries need to work on is immigration.
“You have 1.2 million Indians waiting for the green card. We need to find a solution so (that) they become local residents, pay local taxes and become part of the society,” Aghi said.
More information
https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-expecting-announcement-of-the-ge-engine-deal-during-pm-modis-visit-says-usispf-chief-3123870/
Mukesh Aghi says India is providing de-risking for US companies from China to manufacture in the country and is a growing market for American goods
India and the US are realising that an equitable bilateral partnership is a win-win for both countries and their people, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) President and CEO Mukesh Aghi said. He also underlined that India is providing de-risking for US companies from China to manufacture in the country and is a growing market for American goods.
Prior to Prime Minister Modi’s State Visit to the United States next week, the USISPF chief recalled that the Indian leader had stressed the need for the two countries to overcome the hesitancy of history during his earlier address to a joint session of Congress in 2016.
“What we are seeing on both sides, we are basically burying the past — the 1998 nuclear sanction and other aspects. Both countries are realising that an equitable partnership is a win-win both for the people of India and the people of the United States,” Aghi told PTI in an exclusive interview.
“But more than that, these are two democracies, which look at the international order and (are) trying to maintain that order itself. From a geopolitical perspective, economic perspective and from a technology perspective and people-to-people perspective, it is a partnership which is win-win for both sides,” he said.
Aghi described the current times as “exciting” for Indo-US relations, saying after 75 years of independence, India is on a development path.
“It is a win-win partnership where US companies are also one of the biggest investors in India,” he said, adding that American companies are now setting up research and development centres and moving into innovation centres in India.
“What we’re seeing is the partnership is elevating. There is more and more trust happening. Yes, there’s maturity, we will have disagreement,” he said, citing the example of India’s oil purchases from Russia.
“But both (sides) have accepted those issues and moved on looking at the bigger challenges and opportunities. The relationship is growing to bigger heights, and you’ll see more success coming in as we move forward,” Aghi added.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will welcome Modi as a State Guest in Washington DC on June 22. On the same day, he will address the joint session of the US Congress, becoming the first Indian prime minister to receive the honour twice. Modi first addressed a joint meeting of the US Congress in June 2016.
On June 23, Modi will address corporate leaders at USISPF’s annual conference at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Over 1,200 business leaders are expected to attend, and the discussion will focus on India’s investment potential.
On the challenges and opportunities for the two countries, Aghi said, on the geopolitical aspect, India’s neighbour China “has taken a very aggressive and assertive posture towards India. It does not treat India as an equal partner”.
“India needs at least 20 years of economic growth moving forward and that means it needs (an) alignment to deal with the aggressive neighbour itself and that’s where the US comes in.
“From a US perspective, India’s one country which has stood up to China, eyeball-to-eyeball on its border, and has not blinked. It sends a strong message that India can stand up to Chinese aggression,” he said.
India’s economy, which has a population of 1.4 billion and is growing at about 7 percent, is worth more than USD 3.75 trillion to US companies.
Aghi cited the example of Apple, saying that three years ago it did not manufacture anything in India. Next year, Apple is going to manufacture 20 million iPhone 14s in India and move into the iPad and Macbook space as well.
“What India is providing is a de-risking for US companies from China to manufacture in India and at the same time a growing market, which is going to procure American goods,” he said.
He noted that USISPF operates on two broad principles that economic prosperity of India is good for the US and US companies. Secondly, a militarily-strong India is good for regional stability.
“So, that means India has to become self-sufficient”, especially after the “debacle” of what is happening between Russia and Ukraine, he said.
“That’s where Make in India becomes a very critical role in the defence sector and that’s where you’ll see the deliverables coming in from the US side,” Aghi added.
He referred to the expected announcement of the GE engine deal, India acquiring drones from the US and other aspects of defence procurement during Modi’s visit.
“Where the US used to be reluctant of providing some critical technologies to India, now they’re willing to transfer the technology, not just only sell, to India. To me that shows that the trust factor, the dependence factor has moved dramatically,” he said.
“…we do expect something on GE engines where a deal will happen, where India can make GE jet engines in India. If this happens, India will be the fifth country in the world to make hot engines for planes” he added.
Terming trade as an opportunity between the two nations, Aghi stressed that India and the US should start thinking toward a goal of having a trillion-dollar trade between the two economies and added that it is “absolutely” doable.
“That’s where we both have to keep on working, and you don’t need a trade deal. I think if you just open up the market and make the ease of doing business easier, you will see things moving much, much faster,” he said.
He noted that the challenge that the countries need to work on is immigration.
“You have 1.2 million Indians waiting for the green card. We need to find a solution so (that) they become local residents, pay local taxes and become part of the society,” Aghi said.
He noted that Modi is the only global leader who has got along “very well” with three US presidents — Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Biden.
“That shows his character, that shows his leadership style,” Aghi said.
With Modi being invited to address a joint session of the US Congress for the second time, Aghi said addressing the US Congress is a “very, very important” event from a democracy perspective and from an international order perspective.
He said when Modi addressed the US Congress in 2016, it sent a message “but now it sends a very strong message” as, on one hand, “you have a Democratic president inviting him for a State Dinner and you have a Republican Speaker of the House inviting him to speak at the Congress. So, you have bipartisan support” for Modi.
Modi “will go down in history”, being able to position himself very strongly with the US Congress and the US administration, Aghi said.
More information
https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/india-us-realising-equitable-bilateral-partnership-a-win-win-for-both-usispf-chief-10790021.html
Washington [US], June 13 (ANI): Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Mukesh Aghi, President and Chief Executive Officer of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, on Monday (local time) said that India and the US are getting over the suspiciousness of each other. While speaking to ANI, Mukesh Aghi said that they are witnessing a much more “concrete, deeper and broader relationship” coming up between India and US.
Aghi said that India is taking an independent position at international forums. However, he noted that India also supports the US position. He also recalled PM Modi’s address to the joint session of the Congress.
In response to a question regarding the change in India-US ties over the years, he said, “Well, when Prime Minister spoke for the first time to a joint session of the Congress, he said we need to overcome the hesitation of history. And I think what we are seeing is both sides are coming, getting over the suspiciousness of each other.”
“We had in India 1998 sanctions and India couldn’t bring in a lot of those technologies. Now we’re seeing a lot of those technologies moving to India. We are seeing India stepping up in the international forum, taking an independent position, but it also supports the US position also. So, I think we are seeing a much more concrete, deeper and broader relationship coming up,” he added.
Mukesh Aghi said that India is looking for a transfer of technology and they do expect something on General Electric engines where a deal will happen. He said that the US is looking to create more jobs and they expect some orders on defence equipment from India.
Speaking to ANI regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Mukesh Aghi said, “Well, I think you can break this down with three broad categories. One is geopolitics. The second is on the economic side. And the third is on technology. So when you look at the concrete deliverables, obviously US is looking to create more jobs in the US. So we do expect some orders on defence equipment coming from the India side. So, it kind of helps US companies from a job creation perspective.”
He further said, “From a job creation perspective, India is looking for transfer of technology. So we do expect something on GE engines where a deal will happen, where India can make GE jet engines in India. So, if that happens, then India will be the fifth country in the world making hot engines for planes.”
Mukesh Aghi said that US and India are aligned to deal with China. Speaking to ANI, he said, “Then on the geopolitics side, I think it’s about messaging. The US-India are aligned to deal with the aggressive, assertive China. And I think that’s where you see as strong messaging coming in, both by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi right now.”
He said that India needs to have technology to deal with China. He said that they are witnessing the Biden administration agreeing to transfer some technology to India so that they can manufacture and it becomes self-reliant in the defence sector.
Responding about China being a common thread that is binding Republicans and Democrats, he said, “Well, you have to understand from an India perspective, it shares a 3000-kilometre-long border with China, which China doesn’t agree with the border itself. India has to deal with the aggressive China, basically a dominant China. We’ve had soldiers killed on both sides of the border itself.”
He further said, “So, India needs to have technology. It needs to have enough resources to deal with that assertive posture of China. India’s supply from Russia is drying out. So, it needs other sources and is focused on building most of those stuff in India. So, what we are seeing is the Biden administration agreeing to transfer some complex technology to India so you can manufacture, and India becomes a self-reliant defence area. So, yes, there is an alignment on the positioning posture of China and how to deal with China.”
Speaking about the Kennedy Center event set to be held on June 23, Mukesh Aghi said, “Well, one of the pillars of the relationship is economy. It is about de-risking US companies from China. It is about getting to a newer, larger market, which is India. So, what we’re seeing is most of the US companies are looking at how do you de-risk your supply chain and have a China plus one strategy and India plays a pivotal role in that area.”
“India also with the 1.4 billion people, is a large market. It’s going to grow as the spending power goes up in India. So I think those companies are looking at having India as a potential market. And a classic example is Apple. Apple three years ago didn’t produce anything in India, and the next day, it’s going to produce 20 million iPhone 14. But, it is also its fastest growing market in the world itself. So, there are market opportunity, their trade opportunity, their economic investment opportunity, and that’s a win-win for both countries.”
Mukesh Aghi said that Indian-Americans are the “most affluent minority group” from US President Joe Biden’s perspective. He said that Indian-Americans are the “most educated” and they participate in the civic society quite efficiently. Around 7000 Indian-American community will be welcoming PM Modi at the South Lawn.
Responding to a question regarding the importance given to Indian-Americans, he said, “Well, you have to look at from President Biden’s perspective, Indian Americans are the most affluent minority group. They are the most educated and they participate in civic society quite efficiently itself and from a Biden campaign perspective, if you can get contribution coming into a political campaign, it’s a winning factor. If you can get them voting in the swing state, it has an impact on the electoral college itself. So from that perspective, I think it is a strong motive from Biden to get almost 5 million Indian Americans on its cap side.”
He further said, “When you look at from Prime Minister Modi’s perspective, you have to understand there are 35 billion Indians who live outside India and if they look at their GDP, it’s almost 50 per cent of India’s GDP. So, they are a vital source of investment, technology and influence. So, I think Prime Minister Modi caters to that successfully. And what we have seen is every time he goes to a country, that country’s investment into India spikes up dramatically. So, it is a win-win for both President and the Prime Minister to cater to Indian Americans.”
Indian Americans are eagerly preparing to extend a warm welcome to PM Modi during his state visit to the US from June 21-24. Thousands of expatriate Indians will gather in Washington during the visit of PM Modi, who will arrive in the US at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
While a group of Indian Americans are planning to go to Andrews Air Force Base when the Prime Minister’s Air India One lands on June 21 afternoon from New York and over 600 community members are planning to gather at Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington located near the White House where the PM will be staying during his visit.
More information
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/we-see-much-more-concrete-relationship-us-india-strategic-partnership-forum-ceo20230613055432/
India and US ‘model’ strategic partnersNew York, Jun 11 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US is a “major milestone” for the bilateral ties, the chairman of a leading India-US advocacy group has said, underling that New Delhi and Washington will be the “model” for how two strategic partners can work together across sectors.
Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. “I think it’s a major milestone for the future. I’ve always been the biggest bull on India and the future of India and what economically can be accomplished by India’s leadership on the global stage,” US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Chairman John Chambers told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Chambers, the Chairman Emeritus at Cisco and founder of JC2 Ventures, underlined the potential of the US and India to be the “most strategic partnership” in the world.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US is a ‘major milestone’ for the bilateral ties, the chairman of a leading India-US advocacy group has said, underling that New Delhi and Washington will be the ‘model” for how two strategic partners can work together across sectors.
Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
‘I think it’s a major milestone for the future. I’ve always been the biggest bull on India and the future of India and what economically can be accomplished by India’s leadership on the global stage,’ US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Chairman John Chambers told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Chambers, the Chairman Emeritus at Cisco and founder of JC2 Ventures, underlined the potential of the US and India to be the “most strategic partnership’ in the world.
This partnership will positively impact not only businesses between the two countries but jobs as well in each of the 28 states and union territories of India and 50 states in the US, he said.
Modi will be welcomed as a State Guest in Washington DC on June 22 and will address a joint session of the US Congress the same day, the first Indian prime minister to be accorded this honour twice.
He first addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress in June 2016. The US President and the First Lady will host Prime Minister Modi at a State dinner on June 22.
Chambers said ‘when you have the two biggest democracies who share a common vision of what technology can do for the future of our countries, for the future of standard of living, job creation and defence, it’s rare that that comes together at a point in time which is what we have now.’ Chambers added that there will be challenges in the relationship as well.
‘Nothing this complex, with this type of results, comes without challenges,” he said.
“But if I were betting on one country in Asia, it’s India. If I were betting on two, I’d bet on India twice. I think we will also be the model for how two strategic partners, not allies, partners, can work together on everything from economics to job creation to technology exchange to defence etc. So it’s a magical moment,’ he said.
Chambers said that in Modi, he has seen a ‘leader that is like almost no other that I’ve seen in 40 years.’ Chambers described Modi as a ‘charismatic leader who is able to outline a vision and to get people both excited about it but he has the ability to execute on it. That is rare in today’s world.’ He emphasised that the Indian leader gets along with both Democrats and Republican leaders in the US.
‘I think he is a uniting force in this world. And I think the most important partnership that will exist for the next two-three decades will be what the US and India can do across” a spectrum of areas.
‘What you really see is our two countries’are joined at the hip at every level,’ Chambers said.
He noted the several interactions and exchanges between top leaders from both countries ahead of the state visit including between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai well as National Security Advisors from the two countries Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan.
‘So what you see is a very broad building of relationships in many areas and each of them in and of themselves being important, but when you put them together into an architecture that it becomes game-changing. And so I think it’s important to realise this is a long-term play,’ he said.
Chambers described digitalisation in India as a ‘powerful’ vision. ‘What you see now is no longer an India that is a slow follower. You see an India that is an innovator, a mover and shaker that can really drive through it.’ Chambers also noted the cooperation between India and the US in multilateral fora such as the Quad that includes Australia and Japan and I2U2 – India, Israel, UAE and the US.
‘Now, where we’re going is a chance to redefine what is possible. So my view on this visit is you take it one more step,’ he said adding that “this is an ongoing process.’ Chambers said he ‘can’t wait to watch’ Modi’s address to the US Congress and said expectations are obviously high from the visit.
He added that going by how the foundation has been built, ‘I think it’s going to be a tremendous visit and tremendous results, not necessarily in the next week, but tremendous results over the next years. That really is what it’s all about.’
India-US partnership will positively impact not only businesses between the two countries but jobs as well in each of the 28 States and Union Territories of India and 50 States in the US: John Chambers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US is a “major milestone” for the bilateral ties, the chairman of a leading India-US advocacy group has said, underling that New Delhi and Washington will be the “model” for how two strategic partners can work together across sectors.
Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
“I think it’s a major milestone for the future. I’ve always been the biggest bull on India and the future of India and what economically can be accomplished by India’s leadership on the global stage,” US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Chairman John Chambers told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Chambers, the Chairman Emeritus at Cisco and founder of JC2 Ventures, underlined the potential of the US and India to be the “most strategic partnership” in the world.
This partnership will positively impact not only businesses between the two countries but jobs as well in each of the 28 States and Union Territories of India and 50 States in the US, he said.
Modi will be welcomed as a State Guest in Washington DC on June 22 and will address a joint session of the US Congress the same day, the first Indian prime minister to be accorded this honour twice.
He first addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress in June 2016. The US President and the First Lady will host Prime Minister Modi at a State dinner on June 22.
Chambers said “when you have the two biggest democracies who share a common vision of what technology can do for the future of our countries, for the future of standard of living, job creation and defence, it’s rare that that comes together at a point in time which is what we have now.” Chambers added that there will be challenges in the relationship as well.
“Nothing this complex, with this type of results, comes without challenges,” he said.
“But if I were betting on one country in Asia, it’s India. If I were betting on two, I’d bet on India twice. I think we will also be the model for how two strategic partners, not allies, partners, can work together on everything from economics to job creation to technology exchange to defence etc. So it’s a magical moment,” he said.
Chambers said that in Modi, he has seen a “leader that is like almost no other that I’ve seen in 40 years.” Chambers described Modi as a “charismatic leader who is able to outline a vision and to get people both excited about it but he has the ability to execute on it. That is rare in today’s world.” He emphasised that the Indian leader gets along with both Democrats and Republican leaders in the US.
“I think he is a uniting force in this world. And I think the most important partnership that will exist for the next two-three decades will be what the US and India can do across” a spectrum of areas.
“What you really see is our two countries…are joined at the hip at every level,” Chambers said.
He noted the several interactions and exchanges between top leaders from both countries ahead of the state visit including between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai well as National Security Advisors from the two countries Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan.
“So what you see is a very broad building of relationships in many areas and each of them in and of themselves being important, but when you put them together into an architecture that it becomes game-changing. And so I think it’s important to realise this is a long-term play,” he said.
Chambers described digitalisation in India as a “powerful” vision. “What you see now is no longer an India that is a slow follower. You see an India that is an innovator, a mover and shaker that can really drive through it.” Chambers also noted the cooperation between India and the US in multilateral fora such as the Quad that includes Australia and Japan and I2U2 – India, Israel, UAE and the US.
“Now, where we’re going is a chance to redefine what is possible. So my view on this visit is you take it one more step,” he said adding that “this is an ongoing process.” Chambers said he “can’t wait to watch” Modi’s address to the US Congress and said expectations are obviously high from the visit.
He added that going by how the foundation has been built, “I think it’s going to be a tremendous visit and tremendous results, not necessarily in the next week, but tremendous results over the next years. That really is what it’s all about.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US is a “major milestone” for the bilateral ties, the chairman of a leading India-US advocacy group has said, underling that New Delhi and Washington will be the “model” for how two strategic partners can work together across sectors.
Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
“I think it’s a major milestone for the future. I’ve always been the biggest bull on India and the future of India and what economically can be accomplished by India’s leadership on the global stage,” US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Chairman John Chambers told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Chambers, the Chairman Emeritus at Cisco and founder of JC2 Ventures, underlined the potential of the US and India to be the “most strategic partnership” in the world.
This partnership will positively impact not only businesses between the two countries but jobs as well in each of the 28 states and union territories of India and 50 states in the US, he said.
Modi will be welcomed as a State Guest in Washington DC on June 22 and will address a joint session of the US Congress the same day, the first Indian prime minister to be accorded this honour twice.
He first addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress in June 2016. The US President and the First Lady will host Prime Minister Modi at a State dinner on June 22.
Chambers said “when you have the two biggest democracies who share a common vision of what technology can do for the future of our countries, for the future of standard of living, job creation and defence, it’s rare that that comes together at a point in time which is what we have now.”
Chambers added that there will be challenges in the relationship as well.
“Nothing this complex, with this type of results, comes without challenges,” he said.
“But if I were betting on one country in Asia, it’s India. If I were betting on two, I’d bet on India twice. I think we will also be the model for how two strategic partners, not allies, partners, can work together on everything from economics to job creation to technology exchange to defence etc. So it’s a magical moment,” he said.
Chambers said that in Modi, he has seen a “leader that is like almost no other that I’ve seen in 40 years.”
Chambers described Modi as a “charismatic leader who is able to outline a vision and to get people both excited about it but he has the ability to execute on it. That is rare in today’s world.” He emphasised that the Indian leader gets along with both Democrats and Republican leaders in the US.
“I think he is a uniting force in this world. And I think the most important partnership that will exist for the next two-three decades will be what the US and India can do across” a spectrum of areas.
“What you really see is our two countries…are joined at the hip at every level,” Chambers said.
He noted the several interactions and exchanges between top leaders from both countries ahead of the state visit including between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai well as National Security Advisors from the two countries Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan.
“So what you see is a very broad building of relationships in many areas and each of them in and of themselves being important, but when you put them together into an architecture that it becomes game-changing. And so I think it’s important to realise this is a long-term play,” he said.
Chambers described digitalisation in India as a “powerful” vision. “What you see now is no longer an India that is a slow follower. You see an India that is an innovator, a mover and shaker that can really drive through it.”
Chambers also noted the cooperation between India and the US in multilateral fora such as the Quad that includes Australia and Japan and I2U2 – India, Israel, UAE and the US.
“Now, where we’re going is a chance to redefine what is possible. So my view on this visit is you take it one more step,” he said adding that “this is an ongoing process.”
Chambers said he “can’t wait to watch” Modi’s address to the US Congress and said expectations are obviously high from the visit.
He added that going by how the foundation has been built, “I think it’s going to be a tremendous visit and tremendous results, not necessarily in the next week, but tremendous results over the next years. That really is what it’s all about.”
PM Modi’s state visit to the US is a major milestone for the bilateral ties, the chairman of a leading India-US advocacy group has said
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US is a major milestone for the bilateral ties, the chairman of a leading India-US advocacy group has said, underling that New Delhi and Washington will be the model” for how two strategic partners can work together across sectors.
Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
I think it’s a major milestone for the future. I’ve always been the biggest bull on India and the future of India and what economically can be accomplished by India’s leadership on the global stage, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Chairman John Chambers told PTI in an exclusive interview.
Chambers, the Chairman Emeritus at Cisco and founder of JC2 Ventures, underlined the potential of the US and India to be the “most strategic partnership in the world.
This partnership will positively impact not only businesses between the two countries but jobs as well in each of the 28 states and union territories of India and 50 states in the US, he said.
Modi will be welcomed as a State Guest in Washington DC on June 22 and will address a joint session of the US Congress the same day, the first Indian prime minister to be accorded this honour twice.
He first addressed the joint meeting of the US Congress in June 2016. The US President and the First Lady will host Prime Minister Modi at a State dinner on June 22.
Chambers said when you have the two biggest democracies who share a common vision of what technology can do for the future of our countries, for the future of standard of living, job creation and defence, it’s rare that that comes together at a point in time which is what we have now.
Chambers added that there will be challenges in the relationship as well.
Nothing this complex, with this type of results, comes without challenges,” he said.
“But if I were betting on one country in Asia, it’s India. If I were betting on two, I’d bet on India twice. I think we will also be the model for how two strategic partners, not allies, partners, can work together on everything from economics to job creation to technology exchange to defence etc. So it’s a magical moment, he said.
Chambers said that in Modi, he has seen a leader that is like almost no other that I’ve seen in 40 years.
Chambers described Modi as a charismatic leader who is able to outline a vision and to get people both excited about it but he has the ability to execute on it. That is rare in today’s world. He emphasised that the Indian leader gets along with both Democrats and Republican leaders in the US.
I think he is a uniting force in this world. And I think the most important partnership that will exist for the next two-three decades will be what the US and India can do across” a spectrum of areas.
What you really see is our two countriesare joined at the hip at every level, Chambers said.
He noted the several interactions and exchanges between top leaders from both countries ahead of the state visit including between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai well as National Security Advisors from the two countries Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan.
So what you see is a very broad building of relationships in many areas and each of them in and of themselves being important, but when you put them together into an architecture that it becomes game-changing. And so I think it’s important to realise this is a long-term play, he said.
Chambers described digitalisation in India as a powerful vision. What you see now is no longer an India that is a slow follower. You see an India that is an innovator, a mover and shaker that can really drive through it.
Chambers also noted the cooperation between India and the US in multilateral fora such as the Quad that includes Australia and Japan and I2U2 – India, Israel, UAE and the US.
Now, where we’re going is a chance to redefine what is possible. So my view on this visit is you take it one more step, he said adding that “this is an ongoing process.
Chambers said he can’t wait to watch Modi’s address to the US Congress and said expectations are obviously high from the visit.
He added that going by how the foundation has been built, I think it’s going to be a tremendous visit and tremendous results, not necessarily in the next week, but tremendous results over the next years. That really is what it’s all about.
More information
https://www.business-standard.com/amp/world-news/india-us-model-for-strategic-partners-to-work-together-usispf-chairman-123061100097_1.html
WASHINGTON, DC – With the aim of raising policy issues that affect the community, and engaging in discussions with more than 75 Congressional representatives and their staff, Indian American delegates of the Foundation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) on April 27, gathered here on Capitol Hill.
“On our advocacy day, we focused on three critical issues: immigration, US-India relations, and religious phobia,” said Khanderao Kand, Founding Director of FIIDS. He said the group “strongly advocated” for the abolition of country-wise limits on employment-based permanent residency; accelerating the Initiative of Critical and Emerging Technology, to counter China, and the expansion of QUAD to include regional countries, addressing security concerns about Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific region. On “religious phobia faced by faiths of Indian origin,” he said measures had been proposed including a congressional resolution on the matter.
House representatives and their staff were actively engaged, asked questions, and shared comments, a press release said. It singled out Congressman Josh Harder for discussing the significance of an Indo-US alliance and delegates lauding Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, for his work on immigration matters.
The day concluded with a celebration reception, which brought together house members, their staff, diplomats, think tank experts, officials, and delegates. This event was supported by the American Jewish Community, Congressman Andy Barr, and Dr. Suvas Desai.
Among the speakers was Nancy Izzo Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs who emphasized the consequential nature of the US-India relationship, including QUAD and various projects, such as food security and climate change through green technology advancements.
Jason Isaacson, Chief Policy & Political Affairs Officer of AJC, India’s ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Nadav Zysblat, Minister-Counselor (Political) from the Embassy of Israel, Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the National Drug Control Policy, Mukesh Aghi, CEO and President of the US India Strategic Partnership Forum, were among those who spoke on various aspects of India-US relations Elected officials who spoke were Reps Raja Krishnamoorthi, Carolyn Maloney, Glenn Grothman, Dan Mauser, Mike Collins, Dr. Rich McCormick, David Schweikert, Shri Thanedar and Ro Khanna.
More information
https://indiawest.com/fiids-holds-advocacy-day-on-capitol-hill/