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FIIDS hosts policy and advocacy event to strengthen US-India ties
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies’ (FIIDS) meet held in the DMV area, focused on talks to address the new Trump administration’s impact on the US and India relations.
FIIDS logo / X
The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) recently hosted a policy and advocacy event in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. The gathering drew over 100 attendees, including community leaders, business professionals, and policy analysts, reflecting the event's importance and relevance.
FIIDS is a US-based research and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening US-India relations and advancing Indian American interests through policy research, advocacy, and community engagement.
This policy and advocacy event focused on anticipating policy shifts and formulating strategies to enhance US-India ties, while advocating for the Indian American community, under the new Trump administration.
The evening featured engaging discussions led by distinguished speakers, including Dr. Rajeev Malhotra, director of the Infinity Foundation; Vibhuji Jha, founder of Jaipur Dialogue; Pradeep Gupta, CEO of Axis America Market Research; and Khanderao Kand, FIIDS president and chief of policy analysis and strategy.
Dr. Malhotra emphasized the importance of the Indian American community's active engagement with higher political circles. He noted the increasing receptiveness within the political ecosystem to Indian American issues.
"Follow-ups and persistent engagement are crucial for achieving meaningful outcomes," he remarked.
Jha highlighted the favorable stance of President Trump toward India, expressing optimism about the administration's potential to strengthen US-India relations. He cited the alignment of the administration's policies with India's positions on key global issues as a promising development.
Gupta offered a unique perspective on the recent US elections, sharing how his firm's market research accurately predicted the results. He underscored the opportunities the new political landscape presents for Indian Americans to advance their interests.
Kand discussed the positive implications of key appointments, including Tulsi Gabbard, Vivek Ramaswamy, Marco Rubio, Mike Waltz, and Sriram Krishnan.
"These appointments signal a stronger alignment on Indian American interests on critical global issues, including the US-India partnership, Indo-Pacific strategy, South Asia, and even matters like the Ukraine war and Hamas attacks," Kand stated.
He also addressed challenges, particularly concerning tech immigration, such as H1B visas and green card backlogs. Kand noted that while President Biden's ICET initiative laid the groundwork for U.S.-India technology partnerships, concrete actions under the new administration are necessary to fully realize its potential. He further urged prioritization of the Quad Alliance and Indo-Pacific collaborations.
The event also highlighted FIIDS's 2024 Advocacy Day, where 150 delegates from 22 states met nearly 100 members of Congress to promote U.S.-India partnerships. FIIDS also demonstrated its commitment to future leaders by placing four interns in Congress.
Kand underscored the pivotal moment for the Indian American community, stating, "The Indian American community is at a pivotal moment. We must continue to build awareness, engage at the highest levels, and ensure our voices are heard."
He further highlighted the Department of State's first bilateral meeting with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the inaugural international alliance meeting on the Quad as positive indicators of the administration's focus on India in its diplomatic and strategic engagements.
The event's success was attributed to the collaborative efforts of key contributors, including Ravindra Shukla, Narsimha Koppula, Ashwin Reddy, Pranay Kohli, and Himanshu Shukla.
For Indian Americans and their allies, this gathering served not just as an event but as a call to action, heralding the next phase of advocacy, engagement, and progress.
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