Ritu Jha–
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day state visit to the United States from June 21-23 has spurred several Indian American organizations to host him. One such is the MR Rangaswami-headed Indiaspora which has partnered with USISPF and Dr. Bharat Barai to host the diaspora event.
Modi is scheduled to land on June 20 in New York, where he will kick off International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations on June 21. The same day, he will travel to Washington DC. where he will be welcomed and honored at the White House, followed by an address to the joint session of Congress (the only Indian prime minister to do so twice) and a state dinner in the evening, hosted by President Joe Biden.
On June 23, USISPF will host a business delegation event, while Chicago-based community leader Dr Bharat Barai along with 100 organizations will host a community dinner. Over a thousand people are expected to attend at each of these events.
In Washington, DC, thousands of Indian Americans are expected to attend Prime Minister Modi’s events, said an excited Rangaswami. He has also been invited to attend the state dinner, Rangaswami told indica, besides the June 23 lunch hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris and the U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.
“Between 2015 and 2023, the United States became India’s largest trading partner with trade exceeding $191 billion in 2022, doubling from 2014. Look at the success of the Indian American community, you now have 60 CEOs of Indian origin in the Fortune 500 list,” Rangaswami said.
“We have 200,000 Indian students in the US. Every metric has grown dramatically. This excitement is a result of India’s growth and success. It’s indicative of what India is doing at G20 (India holds the current G20 presidency). If you add all of this, the excitement just justified, given the success and the impact that India has made on the world and diaspora has made on the world.”
According to an Indiaspora press release, “Over 160 Indian companies are present throughout the 50 US states and have collectively generated over $40 billion in tangible investments in the US. Together, they have created or saved over 425,000 jobs in the US. Their financing of US-based Research and Development (R&D) projects with nearly $1 billion invested, as well as corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts with nearly $195 million invested, is also on the rise.”
On China, Rangaswami said the Asian giant has a contentious relationship with many countries. “This is India’s time,” Rangaswami told indica. “From 2017, when the Quad (group of US, India, Japan and Australia) and I2U2 (India, Israel, United Arab Emirates, and United States) have formed, the relationship continues to build.”
The Indian American population, too, has grown from 3 million in 2015 to 4,5 million in 2023.
“In 2015,” Rangaswami said, “the US was more important for India. Now, they are on equal terms. Trade has almost doubled from $100 billion to almost $200 billion. Both countries want to be the partners.”
About Indiaspora, Rangaswami said: “We have connected a lot of Indian American companies and technology companies to participate in some of these opportunities. Keeping in mind technology, cyber security, defense products, software, and hardware that are geared towards these, we have introduced a lot of diasporas looking at those opportunities.”
Rangaswami said Indiaspora had closed-door meetings for a briefing with the White House National Security Council (NSC) where the main objective was to convey to us what President Biden is thinking about the visit and what the president hopes to accomplish.
During the meeting, the immigration issue was raised, along with visa delays. “We also impressed upon them that they should approve more green cards on the Indian side,” Rangaswami said.
On the US view over India’s non-committal policy on the Russia-Ukraine war, Rangaswami said that India has a nuanced position. “India can’t suddenly do something dramatic that will impact the security of the country. And US completely understands that.”
In a press note Sanjeev Joshipura, Executive Director of Indiaspora, said, “This historic visit comes at a pivotal moment for US-India relations. Indians and the Indian diaspora are at the center stage. Cross-border investments and diaspora engagements are growing exponentially. This aligns with our organizational goal to inspire the Indian diaspora to be a force for good.”
Indiaspora will be hosting a G20 Summit in New Delhi in August 2023. This summit will bring together Indian-origin leaders from around the world to discuss geopolitics, trade and commerce, entrepreneurship and innovation, healthcare, philanthropy, education, arts and culture, and sports.
Indiaspora founder and community leader MR Rangaswami all geared up for Modi visit
