An interactive session was held on April 25, 2025, at the Consulate General of India in New York, focusing on the role of Artificial Intelligence in India’s economic growth. It was led by India’s Minister of State for Commerce and Industry and Electronics and Information Technology, Jitin Prasada, who shared insights on India’s tech-driven future and ongoing Indo-US trade negotiations.
Consul General of India in New York, Binaya Srikanta Pradhan in his welcome speech, noted that a number of representatives from the business community, and those involved in trade between US and India were present at the meeting. He called MoS Prasada’s visit “timely” as it comes during ongoing negotiations between top officials and experts from India and US.
The event saw participation from key community leaders, including Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, and IT professionals like Smrita Chaubey, founder of Veda Farms, community leaders like Alok Kumar of Bihar Foundation of America, Yash Rawal of Jesco, among others.
Dr. Parikh, in his interaction, noted that the Indian American community in the US has long been at the forefront of advocating for strengthening relations between New Delhi and Washington. For the ongoing trade negotiations going on between the two countries, he said he would like guidance on what to advocate for on Capitol Hill and in other forums, to further the trade deal.
MoS Prasada announced that the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement is expected to roll out by fall this year. He encouraged the Indian-American community to contribute suggestions to shape the deal, in response to Dr. Parikh’s query.
“The engagement between the United States and India is happening at various levels,” Prasada said. “As we speak today, the Additional Secretary is in Washington, and discussing the bilateral trade agreement, and the modalities. It is a very good initiative that on your part you will be meeting the policymakers of the United States. And that is what I have said, from various sectors – from technology to pharma, to gems and jewelry, automotive, to other sectors that you might think, where concrete suggestions should be put across,” the Minister noted. He urged members of the diaspora to informally assess the needs of US industry and the needs of Indian businesses operating here as to what their needs are, and what would contribute significantly to creating trade.
Chaubey told ITV Gold about Veda Farms, an ayurveda company which gets raw materials from India to make the products here. She inherited her ancestral farms where she is cultivating crops that will help produced finished products here in the US.
Another participant in the interactive session, David (no last name used), told ITV Gold he was very interested in this interactive session with MoS Prasada because he believed, “artificial intelligence and technology is really an area where India would take a great place in.” He went on to add that India would play this role more ethically than some other nations. Another entrepreneur, Chris Alt, the president of American & Efird (A&E), a global textile company, a subsidiary of Elevate Textiles, the second-largest industrial thread supplier, told ITV Gold, “We are honored to be here tonight. We have big investments in India today and we are looking to expand. Currently, we have 6 operations across pan-India.”
Yash Rawal, founder of Jesco Venture Labs, and his partner Ken Davidoff, who focus on emerging technologies like semi-conductors, special materials, and space technologies, were also present at the interactive meeting with MoS Prasada. They expressed an interest in helping companies in these sectors to scale up their business beyond their country of operations.
