India and the United States Advance Tech and Trade Ties at New York Roundtable Hosted by the Consulate General, Primus Partners and Meridian International

Held in New York City and hosted by the Consulate General of India with Primus Partners and Washington based Meridian International Center, the roundtable brought together senior leaders including Union Minister Smriti Irani, Primus Partners CEO Nilaya Varma, and global experts from academia and industry to drive the next phase of India and United States cooperation across innovation, clean energy, defense production, ethical artificial intelligence and talent mobility under the Mission 500 initiative

In a powerful demonstration of diplomatic momentum and strategic clarity, India and the United States have reaffirmed their shared commitment to co-develop and co-deliver outcomes in critical areas of global leadership. A high-level roundtable titled From Traction to Transaction: Bridging the Gap was hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York, with co-hosting support from Primus Partners and the Meridian International Center. The session drew influential voices from government, business, and academia to move beyond dialogue and accelerate real-world collaboration.
The roundtable was anchored in the broader vision of Mission 500, a bilateral effort to double India United States trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. From clean energy and AI to defense manufacturing and higher education, discussions reflected a maturing partnership with a focus on results.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, offered a candid and forward-looking address during the session. She emphasized the need for bilateral trust built on mutual strength, not dependency. “India and the US don’t need a handshake. They need a steel frame of trust. A partnership grounded in shared ideals and respect for each other’s capabilities. Not one shaped by hierarchies of the past but focused on building a future of equal purpose,” she stated.
Nilaya Varma, Co-Founder and CEO of Primus Partners, echoed this sentiment with a delivery-oriented focus. “Talk is easy. What matters is turning ideas into impact. This dialogue was not just a gathering. It was a working session to move beyond plans and into execution,” he remarked.
Key sessions throughout the day focused on four strategic pillars:

1. Innovation and Deep Tech: Participants discussed how the two countries can jointly shape the global technology landscape through cooperation in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. There was strong alignment on the need to co-develop ethical standards in AI governance, rooted in democratic values and mutual accountability.
2. Defense Collaboration and Manufacturing: Referencing the progress of the GE HAL jet engine co-production and the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), leaders called for new forms of bilateral industrial collaboration in defense and aerospace. Regulatory harmonization, joint R&D, and defense corridors were cited as key areas of near-term focus.
3. Investment and Supply Chain Integration: Experts stressed the urgency of diversifying supply chains and enabling cross-border capital movement. This includes expanding digital infrastructure investments and aligning policies to facilitate joint ventures in priority sectors such as electronics, semiconductors, and renewables.
4. Education, Talent, and Mobility: Policymakers and education leaders highlighted the importance of creating a sustainable India United States knowledge corridor. Proposals included expanded university partnerships, student exchange programs, and skills training focused on future industries.

The conversation on responsible technology drew strong interest, particularly around data sovereignty, ethical AI, and transparency in algorithmic systems. Both nations reaffirmed their role as democratic anchors capable of developing a tech architecture that respects human rights and safeguards national interests.
The roundtable’s outcomes also included renewed calls to establish permanent bilateral working groups focused on results, not rhetoric. Industry leaders advocated for mechanisms to accelerate pilot projects, public-private partnerships, and rapid policy prototyping.

The participation of high-ranking academic voices from both countries further strengthened the call for a globally integrated approach to innovation. Delegates from leading universities in India and the United States discussed building dual-degree programs, research fellowships, and innovation sandboxes that would allow talent to move fluidly across borders while staying rooted in local context.
The event also served as a showcase of India’s expanding global engagement strategy. As both countries position themselves at the center of the future digital and industrial economy, the tone of the roundtable marked a shift from mutual admiration to mission-focused alignment.

As India’s presence in global trade and tech expands, its collaboration with long-standing partners like the United States will be increasingly defined by mutual delivery. Rather than speaking of shared goals, the emphasis is now on shared accountability.
In that spirit, both sides concluded the dialogue with a commitment to meet again within the fiscal year to assess tangible progress on collaborative goals. The roadmap forward includes pilot projects in climate tech, new age manufacturing, and digital infrastructure, backed by joint capital and transparent governance frameworks.

About Primus Partners
Primus Partners is one of India’s leading management consulting firms with presence across India, the United States, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Built on the philosophy of Idea Realisation, the firm bridges strategy and execution to deliver long-term impact in both the public and private sectors.
About Meridian International Center
Based in Washington, D.C., Meridian International Center is a non-profit diplomacy and global leadership institution that strengthens engagement between the United States and the world through leadership exchanges, dialogue programs and training for emerging global voices.

About the Consulate General of India, New York
The Consulate General of India in New York represents the Government of India and works to promote trade, investment, culture, education and public diplomacy between India and the United States, with jurisdiction over several states in the U.S. Northeast.

At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.