The event brought together a gathering of policymakers, business leaders, political figures, and senior officials from both the United States and India. Dr. Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of USISPF, opened the summit, heralding it as a pivotal moment for U.S.-India collaboration post-pandemic.
Among the notable speakers was John Chambers, Chairman of USISPF and Chairman Emeritus of Cisco, who emphasized the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping global economies. Chambers highlighted the opportunity for the U.S. and India to lead together in AI innovation:
“AI will be the most fundamental change in the future. AI will disrupt every business and every country. This is the chance for our countries to come together.”
Republican Senators Steve Daines and Dan Sullivan also shared insights, emphasizing the economic ties between their states and India. Senator Daines notes Montana’s role as a leading producer of pulse crops and expressed optimism about enhancing trade relations with India.
“Montana is the number one in pulse crops. So, we are working with the Indian government to reduce tariffs. India is the number one consumer of pulse crops, and Montana is the number one producer. So, there is a natural relationship.”
Senior White House Official Jon Finer and Ms. Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden, engaged in discussions highlighting the strategic importance of the U.S.-India partnership across various sectors, including technology and people-to-people connections.
Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan of the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., outlined key areas for future collaboration, urging companies from both nations to prioritize defense, space, communications, and biotech sectors:
“We need to have our companies working closely on the very areas that we have prioritized. That will determine our success in the coming century. In fields like defense, space, communications, and biotech, our companies must see each other as partners of first choice.”
The summit also honored Mr. Henry R. Kravis, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman of KKR, with the 2024 Global Leadership Award for his significant contributions to fostering U.S.-India relations through substantial investments in the Indian economy.
Reflecting on the honor, Mr. Kravis expressed enthusiasm for India’s growth prospects, citing its internet connectivity and entrepreneurial spirit as key factors driving KKR’s investments.
“India is a terrific country to do business in. There are a lot of opportunities there with 860 million on the Internet and a lot of innovative entrepreneurs.”
The event coincided with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s visit to New Delhi for the initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) dialogue.
Attended by nearly 300 participants, including government officials, business leaders, and media representatives, the USISPF summit highlighted the growing momentum behind strengthening U.S.-India ties across various fronts.
