New Jersey delegation concludes Economic Mission Trip to India: Highlights

New Jersey delegation in India. / X@LtGovWay

A 22-member delegation from New Jersey visited India from December 8-16, 2024, in a mission organized by the New Jersey-India Commission (NJIC) to strengthen economic, cultural, and educational ties between New Jersey and India. 

Led by Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way the nine-day, five-city trade mission was intended to further the already robust partnership, which is rooted in $10 billion in annual trade and substantial Indian investment in the state.

The delegation included prominent leaders from business, technology, and public policy such as Wesley Mathews, CEO of Choose New Jersey; Deelip Mhaske, an entrepreneur and community leader; Vandana Tilak, CEO of Akshaya Patra Foundation USA; Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Padma Shri awardee and publisher of Parikh Worldwide Media; and Nisha Desai, director of International Trade at New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

City-wise highlights of the visit:
 

Bengaluru

The New Jersey Department of State signed a sister state agreement with the Karnataka government that detailed cooperation in technology, innovation, and economic development between the two states during the TiE Global Summit at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, where Way delivered the keynote speech about New Jersey’s and India’s shared priority in fostering a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem.
 

Signing of the sister state agreement between the State of New Jersey and the State of Karnataka as part of the Commission’s inaugural economic mission / Choose New Jersey

The delegation then visited key innovation hubs such as C-CAMP and IIIT-Bangalore and met with Bangalore Bio-Innovation Centre (BBC), a state-of-the-art biotech incubator, at the Bangalore Helix Biotech Park.

The delegation also visited the global headquarters of Wipro in Bengaluru, where they met with the management. They also toured the campus of Infosys and engaged with top management, including Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder and chairman of Infosys Technologies. 

 

(top) Delegation visits Infosys office (bottom) Delegation in a meeting at the Wipro world headquarters. / Choose New Jersey

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, chairperson and managing director of Biocon Ltd., met with the delegation from New Jersey to discuss R&D, talent exchange, and future expansion opportunities during their visit to India's Silicon Valley. The meeting also created the opportunity for joint projects in biotechnology.

Lt. Gov. Way witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with Choose New Jersey, the Institute for Life Science Entrepreneurship (ILSE), and the Association of Biotechnology Lead Enterprises (ABLE) to promote entrepreneurship in life sciences.

Hyderabad
 

Lieutenant Governor Way signs Memorandum of Understanding between New Jersey Innovation Institute and T-Hub Foundation / Choose New Jersey

In the capital of Telangana, another one of India’s major technology hubs, the New Jersey-India Commission attended the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between T-Hub, India’s leading startup incubator, and the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) in the presence of Minister of Information, Technology, Electronics, and Communications, Industry and Commerce for the Government of Telangana, Dduddilla Sridhar Babu.

The delegation interacted with Indian technology industry leaders at a networking dinner held by the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), a group of works alongside industry, government, and academia to establish India as the most reliable ecosystem for top-notch products, services, digital talent, and impactful solutions. 

Lieutenant Governor Way participated in a fireside chat, moderated by NASSCOM President Rajesh Nambiar. / Choose New Jersey

Lt. Gov Way participated in a fireside chat, moderated by NASSCOM president Rajesh Nambiar and vice president and head of global trade Shivendra Singh. Tarun Gupta, director of the New Jersey India Center, also presented information about New Jersey’s technology landscape, innovation ecosystem, and market opportunities, while existing investors shared their success stories.

The delegation also visited Saint Francis College for Women, a distinguished autonomous institution affiliated with Osmania University that is committed to the advancement of women's education, and the American Corner, which promotes cultural exchange and collaboration in the region. 

Ahmedabad

 

Lieutenant Governor Way with Gandhi's Charkha at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. / X @LtGovWay

The delegation participated in a cultural experience at the Sabarmati Ashram, which served as Mahatma Gandhi's residence from 1917 to 1930 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Hriday Kunj, Gandhi's residence, and a museum displaying his letters, photographs, and the iconic charkha are all located at the site, which was a major for India's nonviolent fight for independence.

During their meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, the delegation, led by Lt. Gov Way, discussed enhancing economic and cultural exchanges between the two regions.  Additionally, Way and the New Jersey-India Commission attended a forum with Tejinder Oberoi, chairman of the Indian American Chamber of Commerce (IACC), Ahmedabad Chapter.
 

Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way and the New Jersey Delegation met with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel / X@Bhupendrapbjp

Meetings with leaders of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), India’s first operational smart city, and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) and of the Indian Institute of Technology – Gandhinagar (IIT-GN), a top Indian engineering institution known for its interdisciplinary research were also held.

Amritsar

In Amritsar, Punjab, the delegation engaged with business leaders from the Punjabi Chamber of Commerce (PCC), which is headquartered in Edison, New Jersey and has 21 chapters worldwide. The PCC serves as a critical link in the development of international business relationships
 

The New Jersey-India Commission meeting with Punjabi Chamber of Commerce (PCC) / Choose New Jersey

The trip to the city concluded with visits to the Golden Temple also known as the Harminder Sahib, a spiritual epicenter of Sikhism. They also visited Jallianwala Bagh, a historic garden in Amritsar that honors the memory of those who lost their lives in the tragic Jallianwala Bagh Massacre during the freedom struggle.

New Delhi

U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti meeting the New Jersey delegation. / X@USAmbIndia

In the capital city of India, the delegation met with U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, and announced a new academic partnership to strengthen opportunities in research and technology between India and New Jersey. They also participated in the South Asia Women in Energy (SAWIE) Annual Leadership Summit.
 

Signing of the tripartite agreement between the New Jersey Department of State, The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and Rowan University to create a strong link between the global technology centers of India and New Jersey / X@LtGovWay

An additional agreement was signed by the New Jersey Department of State, The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and Rowan University to establish a robust connection between the global technology centers of India and New Jersey in order to facilitate research, development, and innovation in emerging technologies.

The delegation's visit to Jama Masjid, a grand mosque that is one of the largest in India, concluded the visit. This iconic symbol of Mughal architecture showcases a harmonious blend of Persian, Timurid, and Indian styles.