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The United States India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), an advocacy organization that supports the interests of Indian Americans living in the United States, recently hosted a delegation from Telangana in Washington, D.C. Jupally Krishna Rao, Telangana’s minister of industries, led the delegation that focused on scouting partners and investments. He participated in a series of meetings coordinated by USINPAC. The delegation from Telangana participated in a session on trade promotion that included investor and corporate representatives from the health care, private equity, defense, IT, and distribution/logistics sectors. After hearing from the delegation about the many opportunities and thriving business environment in Telangana, representatives chiefly from the life science and aerospace industries are weighing a trip to Hyderabad in order to explore scientific partnerships with private industry or the state government. Rao said he has confidence in the new state and discussed transparent procedures favorable to investors that would facilitate investments in Telangana. 

Throughout its history as an advocacy organization in the United States, the United States India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) has supported a broad range of issues important to the Indian American community. USINPAC has consistently stressed the importance of economic cooperation between the two nations. In particular, it has advocated for policies that directly benefit entrepreneurs and small businesses. USINPAC works closely with small business owners from the Indian American community, developing an understanding of their needs and providing valuable information on federal budget priorities. USINPAC organizes regular meetings with business owners, featuring as guest speakers the chief information officers of the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and other federal agencies. In addition to advocating for the unbundling of federal contracts and the preservation of small business loan programs, USINPAC sponsors quarterly delegations of Indian American business owners to India. In this way, USINPAC hopes to create long-lasting business ties between the United States and India, as well as to promote a greater understanding among business owners.

The third-largest city in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, Nagpur is widely known as the "Orange City" on account of the volume of oranges produced in the area. Due to recent efforts of the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) to generate investment activity, Nagpur is now poised to achieve prominence as a center of business investment, too. USINPAC Chairman Sanjay Puri recently visited Nagpur during the days leading up to the Nagpur Business Conclave, which highlighted the city’s potential to draw foreign investment and business activity. During his time there, Mr. Puri described Nagpur as a “rare, unexplored gem with a lot of investment potential” and networked with representatives from the business, education, and industrial sectors, including executives from Raisoni, Haldiram's, and Mahindra & Mahindra. Mr. Puri cited several industries such as technology, pharma logistics, agriculture, and automobile manufacturing as offering significant investment potential in Nagpur, and discussed possible courses of action to generate US investment in these key areas. He also met with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to ensure that Nagpur’s infrastructure and transportation development will keep pace with anticipated business growth and serve to attract further investor interest.

Serving as an advocate and resource for the Indian American community, the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) works to foster cooperation between India and the United States on shared matters of interest, such as energy and technology innovation. In November 2014, USINPAC hosted a conference on Capitol Hill to spur collaboration in the realm of national security. Titled “US-India Counterterrorism Cooperation: Salient Issues, Common Approaches, and Avenues for Future Growth,” the half-day conference welcomed experts including Juan Zarate, a former deputy national security advisor; former homeland security advisor Frances Townsend; Marie Richards, who currently serves the State Department as deputy counterterrorism coordinator for regional and multilateral affairs; and Yonah Alexander, director of the Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies. The panelists discussed cooperative measures already undertaken by the United States and India in the areas of counterterrorism and homeland security, as well as terrorist threats facing both countries. Attendees also addressed issues related to counterterrorism financing, exploring ways to identify and disrupt global sources of funding for terrorist organizations. Among suggestions for future shared counterterrorism efforts were the proposals of Congressman Ed Royce, who suggested involving senior officials from homeland security agencies such as the CIA in the counterterrorism initiatives of the Indian government and other regional administrations.                            

In just over a decade, the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) has achieved success in key action areas, including increased recognition for Indian Americans, a more favorable immigration policy, and advocacy for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Another important focus area remains global health policy. Working on both Capitol Hill and in the State Department, USINPAC has strived to build awareness of the major global health concerns impacting India, especially those that affect trade between the United States and India. In 2004, USINPAC spearheaded a briefing on the American and global response to HIV/AIDS in India. The resulting panel consisted of Indian American community representatives, international humanitarian workers, and AIDS experts. The event culminated in a policy paper that made recommendations for improving the fight against HIV/AIDS in India. The organization also advocated for the appropriation of nearly $30 million in foreign aid funding to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in India. Additionally, USINPAC testified in congressional hearings on the topic of access to potable water in India and participated in multiple legislative briefings on the subject.                            

As India prepared for its 2014 general elections, it welcomed an influx of nonresident Indians (NRIs) eager to support the political process. Professionals such as Ramesh Gupta, a former CEO residing in Texas, returned to their home country to canvass for their preferred political parties, with some even pursuing political aspirations of their own. As of April 2014, the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) estimated that at least 15 NRIs returned to India during election season for the purpose of launching political careers. At the time, political analysts observed that the majority of NRIs supported either Arvind Kejriwal, chief of the Aam Aadmi Party, or Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader who would go on to win the race for prime minister. USINPAC, which advocates for Indian Americans encouraged Indian American political leaders to collaborate to more effectively pursue their political agendas, and many did just that. For example, approximately 700 NRIs representing the Asian American Store Owners Association traveled to states such as Gujarat to aid Narendra Modi’s campaign. The group used an innovative campaign strategy to garner support for their cause, mounting an effort titled “Adopt a Constituency,” which involved sending requests to NRIs to help fund political activities in their native states. According to USINPAC chairman Sanjay Puri, this increased political involvement among NRIs was due in part to Modi’s presence in the 2014 election. Additionally, growing concern regarding the ethics and efficacy of the Indian government has spurred NRIs to be more vocal about their home country’s politics.

These recent developments fulfill campaign promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party during the 2014 election, when the party touted its goal of increasing India’s domestic defense industrial manufacturing base.                                 

Indian expatriates around the world congratulated new Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his first month in office, expressing their eagerness to work with a revitalized India. Modi was elected in May 2014 in a landslide victory after campaigning on promises that he would help stimulate India’s economy. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party continued to expand its reach in October, when it won more key parliamentary seats and seemed poised to eventually control the upper house of India’s parliament. Modi has received widespread support from Indians abroad, including winners of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), the highest honor the Indian government gives to citizens of the country who live overseas. Recently, a group of winners released a statement sending warm wishes to Modi and his new government. Among the PBSA winners who signed the statement were Lord Meghnad Desai, Bava Haji Pandalingal of Abu Dhabi and Prakash Lohia of Indonesia.

In a letter shared by USINPAC on September 25, 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to U.S. interests, explaining his administration’s plans to improve Indian infrastructure and bureaucracy and the reasons he thought the United States and India make natural trade partners. Modi was elected after promising to make development in India more inclusive of its population, a diverse blend of 1.25 billion people. Modi’s government will be conducting a wide range of initiatives. It plans to get rid of regulations and laws that are not needed and enhance the transparency of India’s government. It wants to build infrastructure as competitive as that anywhere in the world. And it intends to provide better access to banking, health care, sanitation, electricity, and more over the next eight years. The plans for growth laid out by Modi also include the expansion of trade, and the Prime Minister has targeted the U.S. as a key partner. In his letter, Modi noted that India and the United States share values and a commitment to democracy. He also lauded “the thriving Indian-American community in the U.S.” as a metaphor for the possibilities of partnership between the two nations.                            

A prominent political action committee in the United States, the US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) provides valuable representation for the more than 3.2 million Indian-Americans currently living in the United States. USINPAC oversees a wide variety of projects, including the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Initiative. A sweeping project designed to promote expedited LNG exports from the United States to India, the LNG Initiative has already had a significant impact on policymaking in the United States. In recent years, USINPAC and the LNG Initiative played an integral role in the hearing on US LNG exports, an important proceeding organized by House Committee on Foreign Affairs member Ted Poe, who also serves as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. The LNG Initiative has worked closely with several influential Senators and Congressmen to sponsor H.R. 2771, a bill that will expedite LNG exports to India. With the necessary LNG framework in place, the United States and India can enter a new phase in their energy trade relationship.                            

After a resounding victory earlier this year in the Indian elections, Narendra Modi has assumed the position of Prime Minister. Historically, the White House has shunned this candidate, largely due to a role he allegedly played in the 2002 Gujarat riots, going so far as to institute a visa ban on him. After the election, US President Barack Obama recognized the mandate of the Indian people by ending the visa ban and extending a personal invitation to visit the American capital. Secretary of State John Kerry also extended a personal invitation and expressed a desire to travel to India. The overwhelming support for Modi in India has demonstrated his potential for transforming the country into a major regional and global economic force. The election of Modi marks a clear transition for the country and an opportunity for strengthening the relationship between the United States and India. While the White House refrained from putting any pressure on the new Indian government regarding travel dates, officials have echoed the eagerness to engage with Modi and his officials.                            

During the latest Indian elections, several Indian American community leaders participated in a discussion on how the new Indian government could strengthen ties with the United States. To achieve this goal, India must first increase its consular staff in the United States and other countries around the world. Indiana University professor Dr. Sumit Ganguly pointed out that the visa process is problematic for travelers to India and may inhibit the growth of strong relationships. He argued that increasing consular staff could make the application process flow more smoothly and limit the difficulties that discourage travel to India. Sanjay Puri, chairman of the US-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), suggested that the new government use funding from the "Incredible India" campaign to augment consular staff. He believes that doing so would boost cultural tourism and increase trade while improving India’s image among Indians living abroad, particularly among potential investors. USINPAC has expressed faith in the new Indian prime minister’s ability to restore investor confidence and called for a meeting between the prime minister and President Barack Obama to reinforce the US-India relationship.