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NC diaspora urged to shape India-US ties
The discussions focused on expanding diaspora engagement in politics, business, education and community leadership as India-US ties continue to deepen.
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Lalit K Jha (IANS) - Sun, 10, May 2026
- 07:42 EDT
- 40
Gimpse of the event / New India Abroad
Raleigh: India’s Deputy Chief of Mission to the United States, Namgya Khampa, said the Indian American community in North Carolina can play a strategic role in deepening India-US ties as cooperation expands across business, education and technology.
Khampa was in Raleigh — home to more than 42,000 Indian Americans and a growing business community — for a series of high-level engagements with community leaders, elected officials and business groups.
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Speaking at the “India Abroad North Carolina Dialogue 2026,” organised by India Abroad newspaper, fastest growing news platform for the Indian American diaspora, Khampa described the Indian diaspora as a “powerful bridge” between the two countries.
Gimpse of the event / New India Abroad“Your community is no longer just a community living abroad,” Khampa said. “The Indian American community, by our own data, is about 6 million.”
She said she was struck by both the confidence and achievements of Indian Americans during her three-day North Carolina visit.
“The remarkable accomplishments that I was able to hear about,” she said, reflected the community’s growing influence while maintaining strong cultural and emotional ties with India.
Khampa recalled a conversation with a community member who told her that “being good Americans is good for the India-US partnership.”
“And I couldn’t agree more,” she said.
The envoy said the Indian Embassy was keen to strengthen engagement with North Carolina in education, trade, innovation and technology partnerships.
“I felt there was interest reciprocated,” she said. “There is an opportunity to really look at some of those areas more closely.”
She also highlighted India’s new education policy and encouraged American universities to explore academic and research opportunities in India.
The dialogue brought together elected officials, entrepreneurs and community leaders to discuss diaspora engagement, political participation, race and hate concerns, economic cooperation and cultural identity.
Senator Jay Chaudhuri said Indian Americans must play a more active role in shaping public narratives and political discourse.
“Ultimately, for Indian Americans, we have to control our own narratives,” he said.
Chaudhuri also raised concerns over “viral anti-Indian racism” and called for deeper engagement with mainstream American communities.
Entrepreneur Sandesh Sharda said Indian Americans were making significant contributions to local economies across the United States.
“We are not just taking jobs or sending dollars to India, but investing deeply into businesses across American states,” he said.
Sharda said Indian-owned businesses were creating jobs and helping revive local economies in several parts of the country.
North Carolina, particularly the Raleigh-Durham region, has emerged as a growing hub for Indian Americans, driven by rising Indian investments in technology, healthcare and manufacturing.
As India and the United States deepen cooperation in defence, trade, critical technologies and education, the Indian diaspora is increasingly playing a central role in strengthening economic and people-to-people ties between the two democracies.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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