WASHINGTON, D.C. — India and the United States took fresh steps to deepen cooperation on technology and artificial intelligence during a high-level roundtable in Silicon Valley this past week, as government officials and industry leaders emphasized the need to move more quickly from policy vision to real-world execution.
The closed-door discussion was convened by the Indian Consulate in San Francisco in collaboration with NASSCOM and brought together senior technology executives, venture capital leaders, and academic experts from both countries. The session, titled “India–US Technology Partnership: From Strategic Intent to Execution,” focused on how artificial intelligence is reshaping global trade, labor markets, and cross-border innovation.
Participants described AI as a structural shift in the global economy and stressed the importance of closer coordination among government, industry, and academia to ensure that growth remains inclusive and sustainable. Several speakers noted that effective collaboration will be critical as AI adoption accelerates across sectors.
The NASSCOM delegation visited the San Francisco Bay Area as part of the NASSCOM U.S. CEO Forum program. The group included senior leadership from the industry body along with executives from a dozen major Indian technology companies operating in the United States.
India’s Consul General in San Francisco linked the technology discussions to broader geopolitical and economic developments, citing a newly finalized India–U.S. trade agreement and India’s upcoming role as host of a global artificial intelligence summit. He said the trade deal reduces U.S. tariffs on Indian goods from 50 percent to 18 percent, while India will also eliminate or lower tariffs on selected U.S. products.
According to officials, the agreement is expected to accelerate bilateral trade and support a goal of reaching $500 billion in combined goods and services trade by 2030, a target set by leaders of both countries in February 2025.
NASSCOM’s leadership highlighted the expanding role of Indian technology companies in global digital transformation, pointing to their contributions to innovation, economic growth, and job creation in the United States. Speakers also discussed the challenges and opportunities created by generative AI, particularly for future collaboration between Indian and American firms.
Participants cited estimates that Indian technology companies support hundreds of thousands of jobs in the United States and contribute roughly $103 billion to U.S. gross domestic product, underscoring the sector’s economic footprint.
The roundtable discussion focused on how Indian IT services and software-as-a-service companies can adapt in an AI-driven environment. Speakers called for changes in business models, large-scale workforce reskilling, and a shift toward outcome-based, AI-enabled service delivery.
The session also emphasized a “triple helix” approach involving government, industry, and academia. Participants said coordinated efforts in future skills planning, workforce transitions, and curriculum updates will be essential to keeping pace with rapid technological change. (Source: IANS)
