The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) hosted Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and his delegation in Mumbai, India, as part of an economic development mission to India from February 23 to March 1, 2025. The delegation, consisting of state officials, business leaders, and academic representatives, engaged with key government officials and corporate executives to explore opportunities for strengthening economic ties between Connecticut and India.

The delegation included Connecticut Economic and Community Development Commissioner Daniel O’Keefe; former PepsiCo Chairperson and USISPF Advisor Indra Nooyi; UConn President Radenka Maric; Yale University Vice Provost for Research Michael Crair; Connecticut Innovations CEO Matthew McCooe; and representatives from Advance Connecticut, a nonprofit focused on business growth in the state.

Addressing USISPF members and industry leaders, Governor Lamont highlighted Connecticut’s business-friendly policies and investment opportunities, according to President & CEO of USISPF, Mukesh Aghi. Lamont emphasized the state’s strong financial services sector, noting Hartford’s reputation as the insurance capital of the world. Connecticut’s strengths in manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, and IT services were also key points in discussions aimed at attracting Indian tech firms, the Governor affirmed adding that the meetings fostered dialogue on deepening commercial ties between India and the U.S. at state and local levels, paving the way for future collaborations.

The delegation met with Indian companies interested in expanding their operations to North America, making the case for Connecticut as an ideal base. They also engaged with Indian firms already established in the state, such as Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services.

In addition, the delegation met with executives from several Indian companies that are already operating in the Constitution state, such as Infosys and Tata Consulting. 

“Connecticut and India have many unique connections, and we want to strengthen that bond and increase it to its full economic potential,” said Governor Lamont. 

In addition to one-on-one meetings with corporate decision makers representing Indian companies, the delegation also participated in events such as Venture Clash, a roundtable discussion on quantum computing. 

Overall, the delegation had 4 roundtables and business meetups; 14 attended the QuantumAI roundtable; 8 attended a Deloitte roundtable; 26 attended CG High Tea Networking; 13 attended the MOU signing with Tamil Nadu; 21 attended business roundtable luncheon; 11 Business attraction and business retention/expansions; and 12 meetings with start-up companies and VCs. 

Additionally, the delegation attended dinner meetings hosted by Consuls General and top Indian executives, further strengthening business relationships.

“The socio-economic ties between Connecticut and India are strong. Indians make up the second-largest foreign-born population in the state, and Connecticut has the seventh highest population of Indian residents proportionally in the United States, with numerous Indian cultural groups operating in every corner of the state,” added Governor Lamont in a statement. “As a result of this, Connecticut receives the ninth most tourism dollars spent by Indian travelers per capita in the United States.”

The Governor also highlighted the prominence of Indian students in Connecticut’s education sector. Of the 19,990 international students in the state, 7,200 hail from India, making it the top country of origin. Indian students account for 36.5 per cent of Connecticut’s international student population, surpassing the national average of 29.4 per cent.

“Connecticut has been successful at attracting Indian technology companies, especially fintech and insurtech companies that have clients in Hartford and Stamford,” Commissioner O’Keefe said. “We also have the advantage of an excellent location, from which these companies can easily access their clients in the large metro areas of Montreal, Toronto, New York, and Boston, from a Connecticut-based headquarters location.”

“We have a number of Indian companies operating in Connecticut,” John Bourdeaux, president and CEO of Advance Connecticut, said. “Equally, there are several Connecticut-headquartered companies with operations in India, including Amphenol and Stanley Black & Decker, among others. Creating stronger connections with Indian business leaders will be a win-win for the state and for the companies. Indian companies integrate successfully into the Connecticut business ecosystem and the Connecticut economy benefits greatly from their growing businesses.”

Infosys CEO Salil Parekh, a board member of Advance Connecticut, hosted the delegation during their visit. In addition to Mumbai, the delegation traveled to Chennai and Bangalore, further broadening their engagement with India’s business community.

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