Montana Eyes India Collaboration In Quantum Tech, Aerospace And Agriculture

NEW DELHI-Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, who is in India with a delegation of 36 professionals from higher education and advanced technology, said the US state is exploring partnerships with India in quantum technology and photonics, as well as aerospace, defense technology, precision agriculture and bioscience.

Gianforte said the delegation’s meetings in India have focused on business-to-business and university-to-university collaboration aimed at developing new products and expanding economic opportunities for both countries.

“We’re looking for business-to-business collaboration so that we can produce better products and expand economic opportunities for both India and the United States,” he said.

“Some of the most exciting areas for us on this trip are the work being done here in India and in Montana in quantum technology and photonics. We’re having university-to-university discussions and private-sector-to-private-sector discussions.”

Gianforte said India has significant innovation in quantum technology and photonics, areas that are also a focus for Montana.

“We’re looking for university-to-university collaboration on research. We have institutions in Montana that spend hundreds of millions of dollars on research in these areas that are of interest to both India and the United States,” he said.

He also pointed to opportunities for private-sector cooperation in aerospace, noting that India uses Boeing aircraft while Montana manufactures parts for them.

“But there are also opportunities on the private sector side. India uses a lot of Boeing aircraft, and we manufacture parts for these aircraft in Montana,” he said.

Precision agriculture is another area where Montana sees scope for cooperation, with technology helping farmers improve productivity. Gianforte said the dean of Montana’s School of Agriculture was also part of the delegation.

The delegation is also exploring cooperation in defense technology and bioscience, along with aerospace, precision agriculture and other areas of common interest.

Gianforte said US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor had assured him that India and the US were close to signing a bilateral trade deal.

He said a trade agreement would provide greater certainty to businesses and help strengthen long-term economic ties between the two countries. He also highlighted the importance of stable trade in agricultural commodities, particularly pulse crops.

“India values its farmers very highly, as it should. We value our farmers in the United States very highly as well. We’ve seen great fluctuations in the purchasing of pulse crops in India. We want to have long-term relationships. Particularly in Montana, relationships are important. So, getting this trade deal done, with reciprocal and fair trade, is really essential for us to continue to expand and deepen the relationship between our two countries,” Gianforte said.

He said Indian and American businesses need certainty to build deeper commercial ties.

“We need a reciprocal relationship that gives businesses confidence that we can do business with each other and that both sides are taken care of,” he added. (IANS)