Key Stakeholders Attend USISPF Annual Leadership Summit

Photo: @MukeshAghi

India-West Staff Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC – On June 18, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) held its Annual Leadership Summit, marking the first high-level US-India dialogue following India’s recent elections. The summit focused on the ties between the US and India, bringing together key stakeholders from both countries.

USISPF President Mukesh Aghi opened the event, emphasizing the importance of dialogue between the nations. John Chambers, Chairman of USISPF, conversed with Senators Steve Daines (R-MT) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK in which Daines highlighted the strong relationship and a special Montana-India partnership in agriculture, noting, “Montana is the number one producer of pulse crops, and India is the number one consumer. There is a natural relationship.” Sullivan reinforced the message of strengthening the partnership, stating, “The story of India is under-told. We need to get the story out there. From my visits to India, I can see the tremendous innovation there. The vision for the world’s oldest and largest democracy to do much more strategically together.”

Senior White House Official Jon Finer, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, spoke with Tucker Foote, Executive Vice President of Mastercard. Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Biden, engaged in a fireside chat with Ambassador Tim Roemer, the former US envoy to India. Tanden highlighted shared values between the United States and India in entrepreneurship, innovation, and education, saying, “The convergence of these values allows so many Indians who come to the US to innovate and become leaders in their chosen fields.”

Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Charge d’Affaires at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, stated, “We need to have our companies working closely on the areas 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.”

USISPF honored Henry R. Kravis, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP, with its 2024 Global Leadership Award for his commitment to enhancing the US-India relationship. Under Kravis’ leadership, KKR has emerged as one of the largest investors in India, investing over $11 billion across various sectors and creating thousands of jobs.

In a conversation with USISPF Board Member Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM, Kravis expressed optimism about India’s growth, stating, “India is a terrific country to do business in. There are a lot of opportunities there with 860 million people on the internet and many innovative entrepreneurs.”

The summit was attended by nearly 300 people.