Page 18 - The Indian EYE 051526

NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MAY 15, 2026 | The Indian Eye 18

India Bets Big on US Investments as Tech,

Space and Manufacturing Ties Deepen

Record investments at the SelectUSA Summit and growing cooperation in technology

and space signal a new phase in the India-US economic partnership

OUR BUREAU ing technological ambitions were
also on display in the space sector.
Washington, DC
Ambassador Kwatra congratulated
ndia’s economic engagement with Bengaluru-based startup GalaxEye
the United States gathered fresh following the successful launch of
Imomentum this week as senior Mission Drishti, described as the
Indian diplomat Vinay Mohan Kwa- world’s first OptoSAR satellite com-
tra held a series of high-profile meet- bining optical and radar imaging ca-
ings highlighting expanding cooper- pabilities.
ation in technology, manufacturing, Calling it a “proud moment for
investment, and space innovation. Indian deep-tech,” Kwatra praised
At the centre of the develop- the company’s achievement and said
ments was the 2026 SelectUSA In- the mission represented another
vestment Summit in Washington, milestone in India’s rapidly expand-
where Indian companies announced ing private space ecosystem.
investments worth more than USD Mission Drishti, launched
20.5 billion in the United States — aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket,
the largest investment commitment is considered a major breakthrough
by any country at the summit this and pharmaceutical sectors and re- structure, digital innovation, and for India’s commercial Earth obser-
year. The record figure has been flected the growing strength of the manufacturing. Discussions focused vation sector. The 190-kilogram sat-
viewed by officials in both countries India-US partnership. “India sends on opportunities for collaboration ellite combines optical imaging and
as a sign of deepening economic inte- large delegation to SelectUSA with in high-tech industries, industrial synthetic aperture radar technology,
gration between the world’s two larg- huge results,” it said, describing the development, talent exchange, and allowing round-the-clock, all-weath-
est democracies. summit outcomes as “the US-India investment flows. er Earth observation.
Meeting members of the Indi- partnership in action.” Governor Shapiro later said he The mission has drawn attention
an business and startup delegation Sergio Gor also praised the looked forward to strengthening ties because it demonstrates how Indian
attending the summit, Ambassa- scale of Indian investment, saying with India to “attract more invest- startups are increasingly moving be-
dor Kwatra said Indian enterprises the USD 20.5 billion commitment ment, expand our talent pipelines, yond support roles and emerging as
would play a critical role in helping demonstrated that investing in the and create more good-paying jobs major innovators in the global space
India achieve its long-term “Viksit United States continued to deliver for both Pennsylvanians and Indians economy. Analysts say the technol-
Bharat 2047” vision through greater “strong markets, trusted partners, alike.” ogy could have significant applica-
investments in technology and man- and real returns for American work- Pennsylvania has emerged as tions in defence, agriculture, disas-
ufacturing. ers and communities.” an important economic partner for ter management, and infrastructure
“Delighted to speak with the In- The investment push comes at India in recent years. More than 18 monitoring.
dian Business and Startup Delega- a time when both New Delhi and Indian companies have collectively Indian officials have portrayed
tion participating in the Select USA Washington are attempting to di- invested over USD 540 million in the success of Mission Drishti as ev-
Summit,” Kwatra said in a post on versify supply chains and reduce the state, while Pennsylvania-based idence of the country’s evolving inno-
X. He emphasized the importance overdependence on traditional firms maintain significant operations vation ecosystem, where private firms
of strengthening India’s position in manufacturing hubs. Indian com- in India’s agriculture, chemicals, and are working alongside institutions
global supply chains and expanding panies, particularly in pharmaceu- food processing sectors. such as Indian Space Research Or-
its technological and industrial capa- ticals, advanced manufacturing, and The relationship is also sup- ganisation, NewSpace India Limited,
bilities. digital technology, are increasingly ported by a large Indian-American and IN-SPACe.
The strong Indian presence at positioning themselves as long-term community in the state, estimated at Taken together, the record in-
the summit drew praise from US investors in the US economy. more than 200,000 people, alongside vestments at SelectUSA, the expand-
officials as well. The US Bureau of Beyond Washington, Ambassa- nearly 10,000 Indian students study- ing state-level partnerships, and the
South and Central Asian Affairs dor Kwatra also travelled to Har- ing at Pennsylvania’s educational in- rise of Indian deep-tech firms point
described the investment announce- risburg, Pennsylvania, where he met stitutions. Academic ties have been to a broader transformation in In-
ments as a “record-breaking mo- Josh Shapiro to discuss expanding strengthened through institutions dia-US relations.
ment,” noting that Indian invest- economic and technological coop- such as the University of Pennsylva- Increasingly, the partnership is
ments represented the single largest eration between India and the state. nia and its Center for the Advanced being shaped not only by diplomacy
amount pledged by any participating During the meeting, Kwatra Study of India, the first American re- and security cooperation, but by capi-
country in 2026. briefed the governor on India’s search centre dedicated to contem- tal flows, technology, innovation, and
The bureau said the deals rapid economic transformation, porary India. the growing global ambitions of Indi-
spanned technology, manufacturing, highlighting developments in infra- At the same time, India’s grow- an industry.

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