India Global Forum launches in the USA with a high-profile delegation visit and policy discussions ahead of the Trump inauguration.
A delegation of Indian business leaders met with key stakeholders in the United States during closed-door sessions at the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, January 17, 2025—The India Global Forum (IGF) officially launched in the United States with a high-profile delegation of Indian business leaders. They participated in exclusive, closed-door discussions with members of the incoming administration, key U.S. stakeholders, and policymakers. This landmark initiative is particularly significant as it occurred just before President Trump’s second inauguration, highlighting the increasing alignment between the world’s two largest democracies.
The event served as a platform for open and informal discussions about the shared priorities and challenges that shape U.S.-India relations, explicitly focusing on geopolitics, security, defense, and economic cooperation.
Topics included President Trump’s populist approach, electoral shifts in the United States, and the significant influence of the Indian diaspora. The dialogue also examined the U.S. economic landscape, looking at opportunities in digital infrastructure, technology, innovation, and foreign investment while emphasizing ways to strengthen bilateral collaboration.
“Democracies thrive best when they collaborate,” stated Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman of the India Global Forum, in his opening address. “Today, we are gathered not just to discuss policies or trends but to actively foster synergies between India and the United States—two of the world’s greatest democracies—working together to navigate a complex and rapidly changing global landscape.”
Jacob Helberg, the new administration’s Designated Undersecretary of State for economic growth, Energy, and the Environment, attended the event along with other key policymakers.
Discussions were led by a lineup of prominent voices, including Ajit Pai, the former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman of the United States. He shared his observations from working under President Trump’s first administration, noting that a potential Trump 2.0 presidency would have different implications for big tech, cryptocurrency, and regulation. He also provided his insights on the newly established DOGE agency.
In a broader geopolitical context, Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director of ORF America and author of Vishwa Shastra: India & the World, discussed the potential for enhanced cooperation between the U.S. and India. He provided insights on what to expect under a possible Trump presidency and emphasized India’s strategic priorities.
Additionally, Decision Desk’s Scott Tranter participated in the IGF Business Delegation, where he conducted an in-depth analysis of the data regarding the 2024 elections and shared his predictions for key policy trends over the next four years.
In discussing natural synergies in defense procurement, energy, and global supply chains, a former National Security Official from the first Trump administration emphasized how the U.S. and India could strengthen their bilateral ties.
The event concluded with an exclusive drinks and dinner reception at India House, hosted by H.E. Vinay Kwatra, the Ambassador of India to the United States.
The delegation included several prominent leaders: Jay Kotak, Co-Head of Kotak811; Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and Group CEO of OYO; Kalyan Raman, CEO of Flipkart; Aryaman Birla, Director of Aditya Birla Management Corporation Private Limited; Nilesh Ved, Chairman of Apparel Group; and author Amish Tripathi, among others.
On Day 2, the delegation visits Texas for high-profile interactions at Starbase, the rocket launch facility that is Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s main testing and production site.
India Global Forum is a global affairs organization highlighting contemporary India’s story. It believes India’s rapid change and growth present limitless opportunities for the world and act as a gateway for seizing those opportunities. Through significant events across multiple continents, the forum aims to bring together the world’s most influential changemakers currently setting the agenda.
Source: India Global Forum
CitiTimes 