India Could Emerge as Major Alternative to China for US Manufacturers, Georgia Business Leader Says

ATLANTA–India has the potential to become a leading alternative to China for American manufacturers seeking to diversify their supply chains, according to a Georgia business leader who is organizing a trade fair aimed at connecting Indian manufacturers with U.S. buyers and investors.

S.K. Raj, a board member and former president of the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, said India’s manufacturing capabilities, large workforce and growing pool of skilled professionals position it as a strong competitor to China.

“If you look at the region, South Asia region, there is no other country that can compete with the Chinese in terms of size and capability than India,” Raj said in an interview.

His remarks come ahead of the Atlanta India Trade Fair 2026, scheduled for November 18-20 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The event will focus exclusively on Indian manufacturers seeking opportunities to establish commercial relationships with American companies.

Organizers expect more than 35 manufacturers and over 600 buyers to participate in the three-day event.

Raj, who serves as the trade fair’s director, said the initiative reflects growing interest among American businesses in reducing their dependence on Chinese manufacturing.

He argued that trade tensions, tariffs and national security concerns have encouraged U.S. companies to explore alternative production and sourcing locations.

According to Raj, Washington has increasingly encouraged American manufacturers to diversify away from China as economic and strategic competition between the two countries continues.

He identified several factors that could make India an attractive manufacturing partner, including its widespread use of English in business, relatively young workforce and substantial engineering talent.

Raj said India produces approximately 1.5 million engineers annually, providing companies with access to a large pool of technically trained workers.

“So for all these reasons, all the manufacturers in the US, because of all the tariffs and other things, they’re looking at India as a potential alternative,” he said.

The Atlanta trade fair is designed to capitalize on that interest by bringing Indian manufacturers directly into contact with American buyers, distributors and potential business partners.

Raj said it represents the chamber’s first trade exhibition devoted entirely to manufacturing companies from India.

The event builds on previous business exchanges organized by the chamber to strengthen economic relationships between Georgia and India.

Those initiatives included hosting a delegation of approximately 50 senior executives representing more than 40 Indian companies, followed by a chamber delegation of 25 representatives traveling to India.

Beyond encouraging American companies to source products from India, the chamber is also promoting direct Indian investment in U.S. manufacturing operations.

Raj said establishing production facilities in the United States could help Indian companies reduce their exposure to import tariffs while gaining better access to American customers.

“If you set up a shop here in the US and then you make it in the USA, you have tremendous advantage because a local market will be very, very receptive,” he said.

Although labor expenses in the United States are generally higher than in India, Raj argued that productivity improvements and government incentives could help offset the difference.

He cited the example of an Indian manufacturer of sweeping equipment that reportedly required approximately 150 workers in India to produce an output comparable to that of about 35 workers in the United States.

Raj also highlighted employment incentives available to qualifying businesses in Georgia, saying companies could receive between $5,000 and $7,500 per new employee annually for five years.

He maintained that such incentives, combined with operational efficiencies and access to the American market, could make domestic manufacturing financially attractive to Indian investors.

“So if people think the cost of manufacturing in the US is prohibitively high, they cannot do it, they’re really, really wrong,” Raj said.

The chamber is working to help Indian companies understand the requirements and opportunities associated with establishing operations in Georgia.

Raj said chamber volunteers provide assistance without charging fees, drawing on relationships with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Small Business Development Center and the governor’s office.

These connections help prospective investors navigate business development resources and explore potential manufacturing locations.

The Atlanta India Trade Fair comes as companies in both countries seek opportunities to expand bilateral commerce amid shifting global supply chains and evolving U.S. trade policies.

For American manufacturers, India represents a potential source of industrial products and components outside China. For Indian companies, the United States offers opportunities to expand exports, establish manufacturing operations and build long-term commercial relationships.

Raj said the chamber hopes the upcoming event will help translate those opportunities into business partnerships and investment commitments, strengthening Georgia’s economic ties with India while supporting broader efforts to diversify American manufacturing supply chains. (Source: IANS)