DCM Khampa meets NCINPAC over a discussion in Raleigh / Handout

North Carolina boasts a strong-110,000 Indian diaspora community with Raleigh being home to about 45,000-plus Indian Americans. The community’s distinct identity is anchored in professional, economic and industrial excellence they achieved while providing service, creating businesses to boost American economy, creating jobs through eco-spaces located in the Research Triangle area, and bringing in top Indian corporate brands, thus giving India-US business diplomacy a robust thrust.

Besides, strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two regions, in many ways work as a soft diplomacy bridge that connects North Carolina with Brand India in the United States.


Last week the Indian American diaspora scripted history in Raleigh with the launch of North Carolina-India Trade Commission to boost the economic cooperation, trade, and new businesses opportunities to strengthen diplomatic partnership between the two democracies.

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Top business and community leaders in Raleigh -- the seat of thriving economic activity in North Carolina, are elated and see the launch of NC-India Trade Commission as a landmark moment toward expanding trade, investment, innovation, and economic cooperation between North Carolina and one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

Indian American community leaders – State Senator Jay Chaudhuri and Sumit Gupta, Deputy-General Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor in NC Office of Speaker, have pushed relentlessly to make it real.

Crediting the big moment to Speaker Destin Hall, Gupta said: “As a lifelong North Carolinian and proud Indian American, I have seen our community thriving…I’m grateful to Speaker Destin Hall for recognizing the contributions Indian Americans make to North Carolina and the importance of strengthening our relationship with India. The North Carolina India Trade Commission will be instrumental in building those ties and will open new doors that will greatly benefit our economy.’’

The local North Carolina Indian American Political Action Committee (NCINPAC) members are elated. “This milestone reflects the power of political and civic engagement and the positive contributions of the Indian American community to our great state. It is a proud reminder that when communities come together with vision and purpose, they can help shape a brighter future for all,’’ says Subhash Gumber, former chair of NCINPAC adding, “The local Indian diaspora sees this as a moment to celebrate and take pride to continue building stronger partnerships that create opportunity, prosperity, and lasting friendship between North Carolina and India for generations to come.”

North Carolina possesses a unique combination of assets that position it as an ideal U.S. partner for India. These include a globally recognized Research Triangle innovation ecosystem, leadership in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, major universities such as UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, and NC State University, and the growing Indian-American community that contributes significantly to healthcare, entrepreneurship, technology, academia, and public service.

The newly launched Trade Commission will help strengthen the potential opportunities in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and healthcare innovation; encourage university partnerships, facilitate clean energy and sustainability cooperation, including solar, battery storage, and green hydrogen technologies; strengthen entrepreneurship, venture capital, and startup ecosystems.

Not to miss, it would help develop real estate and infrastructure partnerships focused on smart cities and innovation corridors.

Talking to India Abroad Newspaper, Senator Chaudhuri said: “For over a decade, we've worked to deepen North Carolina's ties with India — from helping recruit Infosys to Wake County and Bharat Forge to Lee County, to establishing our Trade Office in Bangalore, which helped make North Carolina the number one state in the nation for Indian investment. The North Carolina-India Trade Commission builds on that foundation with a permanent, bipartisan body led by the General Assembly, making sure this partnership isn't tied to any single administration, but has a lasting home to grow trade and investment ties between our state and India for years to come."

The NCINPAC members also credit the setting up of commission to their recent meetings with a high-level visiting Indian Embassy delegation led by Deputy Chief of Mission, Amb Namgya Khampa to Raleigh in May. The strings of high-level discussions with business and community leaders, coordinated by NCINPAC, including a meeting with Governor Josh Stein, is being seen as a precursor to the push that was long awaited.

The Indian diplomatic team spent three productive days meeting with North Carolina business and community leaders. They left deeply impressed by the state’s world-class educational institutions, a thriving research and innovation ecosystem, highly skilled workforce, industry depth, and a strong pro-business environment. Reacting to the launch of NC-India Trade Commission, Amb Khampa told India Abroad Newspaper: “we look forward to a sustained engagement with North Carolina…we will do more.’’

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein meets DCM Amb Khampa / Handout

The diplomatic visit then culminated in a community dialogue organized by India Abroad Newspaper, where the issues of business, culture, and strong India-US diplomatic ties were deliberated. Creating NC and Raleigh, in particular, as a hub of India-US business was strongly emphasized.

NCINPAC Chairperson Vikas Kharode said, “We are confident that the North Carolina–India Trade Commission will serve as a dynamic bridge between one of America’s most innovative states and one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. By fostering meaningful partnerships in trade, investment, education, technology, healthcare, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing, the Commission will create opportunities that benefit businesses, institutions, and communities on both sides.”

Added Bharat Vedak, former co-chair of NCINPAC: “NCINPAC has embraced a bipartisan approach since its inception in 2008. Our community includes members from both major parties, and we work with leaders across the political spectrum to advance the interests of Indian Americans in North Carolina. The establishment of the North Carolina India Trade Commission by the State of North Carolina stands as a strong testament to this bipartisan commitment.”

Dr Bhaskar Venepalli see this Trade Commission as a perfect opportunity to strengthen partnerships in biotechnology, life sciences, and IT.  Dr Venepalli says: “This commission marks a historic milestone in the North Carolina–India partnership. Linking North Carolina’s leadership in biotechnology, life sciences, and IT with India’s worldclass pharma and tech sectors creates a powerful engine for job growth and long-term economic prosperity.”

Added Gumber: “North Carolina and India share many common strengths in their economic evolution and innovative ecosystems. Our regions have highly complementary industries — including healthcare, education, information technology, alternative energy, agriculture, and advanced manufacturing. The opportunity to deepen this partnership has never been greater.”

Discover more at New India Abroad.