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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.

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.