Phil Murphy and Tammy Murthy in Kerala participating in cultural events, with Kathakali dancers in the background. / Phil Murphy

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s economic mission to India has delivered its biggest outcome yet — a Sister State Agreement with Karnataka aimed at strengthening collaboration in technology, research, and entrepreneurship. Alongside the landmark pact, Murphy’s delegation signed multiple university and business agreements, opening new channels for startups, higher education, and healthcare between New Jersey and India.

The six-day visit, which began in New Delhi on Sep. 20, is Murphy’s first return to India since his 2019 economic mission. He is joined by First Lady Tammy Murphy and a delegation representing New Jersey’s business and academic institutions.

The mission, organized by Choose New Jersey, will cover four cities and includes meetings with government officials, university leaders, and industry executives. The Governor’s office has described the trip as a continuation of New Jersey’s long-standing ties with India, focusing on areas of shared interest such as life sciences, digital innovation, and academic collaboration.

Murphy opened his visit with a discussion at the Public Affairs Forum of India’s 12th Annual Forum, where he joined a fireside chat moderated by Sukumar Ranganthan, Editor of the Hindustan Times. The session, titled ‘State Leadership to Build Economic Relations: View from New Jersey’, examined the role of governance in shaping opportunities for collaboration. The event brought together policymakers and business leaders from both countries.

The India mission follows Murphy’s recent visit to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Reflecting on that visit, he wrote, “As the India trip approaches, the visit served as a reminder of the deep religious and cultural ties that bind our regions.”

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Murphy said, “The India-New Jersey partnership is growing and getting stronger and we're proud to play a small role in it.”

 

The India trip included meetings with business leaders, new educational agreements, and the signing of a state-level partnership to expand trade, technology, and innovation ties. / Phil Murphy

IMPROVING NJ-INDIA PARTNERSHIP

A major feature of the New Delhi leg of the trip was the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). One was between Rutgers University’s Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER), which will collaborate on cardiovascular medicine, digital health, and clinical trials. The second was between Montclair State University and the Association of Indian Universities, creating academic and cultural exchanges for students. Rutgers Chancellor Francine Conway and Montclair President Jonathan Koppell attended the ceremony.

Murphy also joined a roundtable hosted by the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council of India. The session, which included more than 15 companies, examined international expansion opportunities in information technology and software services. Wes Mathews, Tim Sullivan, and Kris Kolluri outlined New Jersey’s technology ecosystem and the incentives available for global businesses.

First Lady Tammy Murphy held several independent engagements. She visited Crysta IVF, founded by Dheeraj Jain, to discuss reproductive health advancements and toured the facility’s operations. She also met with Courtney Deacon Lalotra, founder of One Life to Love, an organization supporting abandoned and special-needs children in Delhi. The First Lady presented a gift to acknowledge Lalotra’s work, which has been recognized both in India and in New Jersey.

The delegation later attended a reception hosted by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. The meeting highlighted avenues for foreign direct investment and partnership between New Jersey and Indian businesses. A separate session with the US-India Business Council and the Confederation of Indian Industry included remarks by Kean University President Lamont Repollet, emphasizing New Jersey’s higher education strengths.

Murphy and the delegation also met Indian business leaders during a reception at the Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi, attended by more than 100 guests. Jorgan K. Andrews, Chargé d’Affaires, joined Murphy in addressing the gathering, where both underlined the importance of bilateral trade and cultural ties.

The delegation toured the HCLTech campus with Chairperson Roshni Nadar and COO Rahul Singh. Discussions focused on HCLTech’s operations in New Jersey and plans for further expansion.

LANDMARK DEALS

The mission later moved to Kochi and Bengaluru, where Murphy announced a Sister State Agreement between New Jersey and Karnataka. The agreement, signed on behalf of New Jersey by Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way, is aimed at strengthening collaboration in technology, research, and entrepreneurship. It also creates opportunities for startups in both regions to expand internationally.

In Kochi, the Governor attended a dinner hosted by LuLu Group International Chairman M. A. Yusuff Ali and engaged with Kerala Startup Mission on entrepreneurship and higher education collaborations. The delegation also visited Fab Lab Kerala, a joint effort involving MIT and Makers Village.

In Bengaluru, Murphy and the delegation signed seven new MOUs between New Jersey and Indian institutions. These agreements, involving Rutgers University, NJIT, Rowan University, and others, cover fields ranging from biotechnology to medical sciences. Murphy said the partnerships will “advance research and innovation while building lasting academic ties between New Jersey and India.”

The Governor also addressed a Blume Ventures conference on the “India-U.S. Innovation Corridor,” highlighting opportunities for startups in both markets. At Christ University, Murphy and the First Lady participated in a town hall with more than 250 students on the role of youth in global education and entrepreneurship.