Governor Lamont Signs Connecticut-India Trade Commission Bill 

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont marked the establishment of the Connecticut-India Trade Commission during a ceremonial bill-signing event on July 30, 2026, at the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford.

The initiative creates a formal mechanism to “promote trade, investment and institutional cooperation” between Connecticut and India, according to a statement from the Consulate General of India in New York. The ceremony was attended by state legislators, diplomats, business and academic leaders, and members of the Indian American community.

Among those in attendance were Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Representative Stephen Meskers, chair of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Commerce Committee, Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, and India’s Consul General in New York, Ambassador Binaya Srikanta Pradhan.

In his remarks, Governor Lamont highlighted Connecticut’s expanding engagement with India and said the Commission could help strengthen “commercial, technological, educational and cultural” ties between the two sides. He also referenced Connecticut’s economic development mission to India in early 2025, when he led a delegation of state officials and business leaders to Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai from February 23 to March 1. During the visit, the delegation met with government officials and corporate executives to explore investment and business opportunities.

Ambassador Pradhan welcomed the establishment of the Commission as a platform for identifying and advancing areas of cooperation between India and Connecticut. He highlighted opportunities in advanced “manufacturing, aerospace, information technology, cybersecurity, clean energy, healthcare, higher education and innovation.”

The Commission was established under Public Act 26-78 following approval by both the Connecticut Senate and the House of Representatives. The July 30 ceremony marked its formal launch.

According to the statement, the Commission will consist of 27 designated members, with the option to add additional members as determined by the chairpersons of the General Assembly’s Commerce Committee. “Its membership will include legislative appointees and Commerce Committee members, gubernatorial appointees, representatives of public higher education and a chamber of commerce, and members of Connecticut’s Indian-American communities,” it added.

Under the law, the statement said, the Commission will work to advance bilateral trade and investment, promote business and academic exchanges, encourage mutual economic and infrastructure investment, and initiate cooperation on policy issues of shared interest. It will also explore new opportunities for collaboration in technology and the arts.

Connecticut joins neighboring New Jersey in establishing a dedicated mechanism to strengthen ties with India. The New Jersey-India Commission was created by then-Governor Phil Murphy through Executive Order No. 354 on February 6, 2024, to “promote trade, investment, economic development, educational cooperation and cultural exchanges.”

The Connecticut-India Trade Commission is expected to provide businesses, universities, policymakers, and community organizations with an ongoing forum to develop economic and institutional partnerships between the state and India.

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