NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra rang the opening bell at Nasdaq on Wednesday, highlighting the growing economic ties between India and the United States.
Kwatra joined Nasdaq officials and U.S.-India business leaders for the ceremony. The event focused on the strong business and technology links between the two countries.
“It’s a pleasure to ring the opening bell at Nasdaq this morning to mark the growing strength and promise of the India-USA partnership,” Kwatra said in a post on X.
He also pointed to India’s fast-changing economy. According to Kwatra, the country continues to see major growth in technology and entrepreneurship. He said companies listed on U.S. markets form an important part of the India-U.S. economic relationship.
The ambassador attended the ceremony with Atul Keshap, president of the U.S.-India Business Council and a former U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka.
Nasdaq welcomed Kwatra as a representative of the deepening relationship between India and the United States. The exchange described him as a supporter of closer ties between the two countries.
Nasdaq also highlighted the long-term connection between India and major U.S. financial markets. The exchange said this relationship continues to support global innovation and the future of finance.
The Nasdaq Stock Market opened in 1971. Today, it ranks among the world’s largest stock exchanges by market value. The New York Stock Exchange also holds a leading position in the global market.
Moreover, Nasdaq has become closely linked with the technology sector. Some of the world’s biggest technology companies trade on the exchange. These include NVIDIA, Apple, Microsoft, and Alphabet.
The strong presence of technology companies gives Nasdaq an important role in the global financial system. It also reflects the growing importance of technology in India-U.S. economic ties.
India and Nasdaq also have a business relationship through the National Stock Exchange of India.
The two exchanges signed a strategic partnership in 2018. Under the agreement, Nasdaq agreed to work with NSE on financial market technology.
The partnership focused on real-time clearing, risk management, and settlement technology. These systems help financial markets process trades and manage risks.
As a result, the relationship between Nasdaq and NSE adds another layer to the wider economic partnership between India and the United States.
The two countries have also expanded cooperation in technology, investment and business. Meanwhile, Indian companies and entrepreneurs continue to build a strong presence in the U.S. market.
Kwatra is not the first Indian diplomat to take part in an opening or closing bell ceremony at a major U.S. stock exchange.
In 2017, then-Consul General in New York Sandeep Chakravorty rang the opening bell at Nasdaq on Aug. 15. The ceremony marked India’s Independence Day.
Earlier that year, Riva Ganguly Das, who served as India’s consul general in New York, rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. The event marked India’s Republic Day.
These ceremonies have provided Indian diplomats with an opportunity to highlight the country’s economic and business connections with the United States.
Kwatra’s Nasdaq appearance continues that tradition. At the same time, it comes as India and the United States seek to strengthen their economic and technology partnership.
The ceremony also offered a public symbol of the growing ties between Indian businesses and U.S. financial markets. With technology and investment playing a larger role in bilateral relations, exchanges such as Nasdaq remain an important part of that connection.
