Lawmakers laud report on Indian businesses in U.S., and contributions of Indian-Americans

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India’s Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu, launched the sixth edition of study by the Confederation of Indian Industry on Indian companies thriving in this country.

Ambassador Sandhu was joined by several U.S. lawmakers who praised the contributions made by Indian industry and Indian-Americans to this country.

“Indian Roots, American Soil: A Survey of Indian Industry’s Business Footprint in the United States” an annual report, shows more than 200 Indian companies have invested more than $22 billion in the U.S. and created 125,000 jobs for the U.S. economy. And during the COVID-19 pandemic, these companies are helping with response and recovery.

“Pleasure to launch ‘Indian Roots, American Soil’, CII’s survey report on Indian industry’s Business Footprint in the United States along with Congressmen @BradSherman @RepBera and friends from Departments of State & Commerce,” tweeted Ambassador Sandhu June 15, 2020.

Senator Mark Warner, D-Virginia, co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, who was in on the conference call for the launch, highlightedthe impact of Indian industry in creating U.S. jobs and strengthening ties between the two countries.

According to the study, Virginia alone received $82 million in foreign direct investment from Indian companies and 1,000 jobs were created by the Indian companies.

Republican India Caucus Co-chair Sen. John Cornyn, sent a message which was played during the conference call, to commemorate the new report. He said he was proud that Texas ranks first among the states with the largest investments by Indian companies.

Cornyn said he was committed to strengthening the relations between the two democracies and that CII had played a critical part in that process. “Indian Americans here have made so many important cultural, economic and scientific contributions to our country, and Texas value your hard work and innovation,” he added.

Congressman Brad Sherman, D-California, co-chair of the House Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, said the contributions of Indian industry were “tremendous.”

“I am especially proud that over 8,000 jobs have been created by Indian companies in my home state of California,” Sherman said adding that the Indian-American community has made significant contributions to American society whether through the arts, military, business or medicine.

Long considered a ‘Friend of India’ Sherman said he would continue to champion a “close and robust” partnership between the U.S. and India.

Rep. Sherman is the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

Officials from the State Department Bureau of South and Central Asia, as well as representatives of trade bodies, and other lawmakers also joined in the Zoom conference call.