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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | The Indian Eye 20

GCCI Southern Connecticut Chapter

Hosts Business Seminar on Opportunities

and Funding for Growth

OUR BUREAU GCCI-Southern CT and GOPIO-CT officials with speakers at the seminar (from left to right) Dr. Thomas Abraham, Sushanth Krishnamurthy,
STAMFORD, CT Shelly Nichani, Ravi Nichani, Richard A. Muskus Jr., Bhom Banta, Mahesh Jhangiani, Rajlakshmi Kadam, Mariana Monteiro, Meg Zimmerman,

he GOPIO Chamber of Com- Sonali Gannu, Prasad Chintalapudi and Nanu Kuppuswamy
merce and Industry (GCCI)–
TSouthern Connecticut Chapter teiro, Chief Equity and Opportuni- is on trade, investment, entrepreneur- Facilitation Portal, a strategic initia-
hosted a business seminar, “Business ty Officer in the Office of Governor ship, innovation, technology, mentor- tive of the Consulate General of In-
Opportunities – Funding for Growth,” Ned Lamont; Ms. Meg Zimmerman, ship, and professional networking.” dia in New York designed to facilitate
on September 10 in Stamford, bring- Special Assistant to Stamford Mayor He explained that the GCCI direct business connections between
ing together entrepreneurs, business Caroline Simmons for Economic De- Southern Connecticut Chapter will Indian exporters and U.S. importers
owners, professionals, community velopment; and Richard A. Muskus provide small and medium-sized busi- across goods and services sectors.
leaders, financial institutions, and Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief nesses and professional practitioners Kadam explained that the portal
government representatives for a dis- Lending Officer and Director of Busi- with opportunities to expand their is intended to help small and medi-
cussion on business growth, access to ness Banking at First County Bank. networks, identify new markets, ac- um-sized enterprises better under-
capital, and Connecticut–India busi- The program was moderated by Nan- cess financing and other resources, stand U.S. regulations, compliance
ness opportunities. du Kuppuswamy, CFO of OnMed. connect with mentors and investors, requirements, and market-access
The seminar followed the recent and explore new avenues for growth. considerations. The initiative also
launch of the GCCI–Connecticut GCCI’S MISSION “We are developing GCCI chap- features virtual showcases and educa-
Chapter at the Connecticut State The program opened with wel- ters in Southern and Central Con- tional webinars involving major orga-
Capitol in Hartford. The Connecti- come remarks by Mahesh Jhangiani, necticut so that businesspeople and nizations and chambers of commerce.
cut–India Trade Commission, estab- President of GOPIO-CT, who intro- professionals can build strong local She emphasized the growing
lished under Public Act 26-78, is in- duced Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chair- networks while also gaining access to scope for bilateral business engage-
tended to advance bilateral trade and man of GOPIO International and national and international connec- ment and the importance of providing
investment between Connecticut and Acting Chairman of GCCI. tions,” Abraham added. businesses with practical tools to iden-
India, among other forms of econom- “GCCI is an initiative of GOPIO tify potential partners and markets.
ic and institutional collaboration. International, created to connect en- INDIA–U.S. TRADE OPPORTUNITIES
The guest of honor was Ms. Ra- trepreneurs, business owners, inves- Consul Rajlakshmi Kadam dis- CONNECTICUT RESOURCES FOR
jlakshmi Kadam, Consul for Com- tors, startups, and professionals of cussed opportunities to expand In- BUSINESS GROWTH
merce and Trade at the Consulate Indian origin with one another and dia–U.S. trade and business partner- Representing the Office of Gov-
General of India in New York. Other with partners in India and around the ships across a range of sectors. She ernor Ned Lamont, Mariana Mon-
speakers included Ms. Mariana Mon- world,” Dr. Abraham said. “Our focus also highlighted the India–USA Trade Continued on next page... >>

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