Indian Diaspora Ties Boost US Business, Says Sitharaman

Speaking at a roundtable with top American business leaders in Chicago, Sitharaman pitched the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, or GIFT City, as a gateway for foreign investment into India. She highlighted its regulatory framework and tax incentives as designed to attract global capital.

The finance minister also met members of the Indian-American community, acknowledging their role in deepening economic cooperation between the two countries. She noted that their professional success and cross-border networks have made them natural bridges for trade and investment.

Sitharaman's engagements in Chicago come as part of a broader outreach to the Indian diaspora in North America, aimed at channeling their influence toward concrete economic partnerships. The discussions focused on sectors such as technology, finance, and manufacturing, where Indian and US interests increasingly overlap.

The visit underscores the Indian government's strategy of leveraging diaspora connections to boost bilateral commerce. Officials said the interactions would feed into policy decisions on easing investment flows and expanding trade ties with the United States.