New Delhi, October 7: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a series of meetings in New York this week with heads of large US companies, as he looked to strengthen India–US trade and invite American firms to invest in India.
The companies he met included Blackstone, Neuberger Berman, The Estée Lauder Companies, IBM, MetLife, General Atlantic and AIA Group, the Commerce Ministry said.
Investment firms
Goyal met Blackstone President and COO Jonathan Gray and Prakash Melwani, Chairman of Blackstone’s international private equity business. Their talks focused on expanding Blackstone’s investments and partnerships in India across key sectors.
With Neuberger Berman Chairman and CEO George Walker and senior members of his team, the minister discussed deeper investment links and closer engagement in financial and wealth management services.
He also met General Atlantic Chairman and CEO William E. Ford to discuss how the firm could further deepen its investment and business engagement with India.
Technology and insurance
Goyal’s meeting with IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna focused on IBM’s engagement in India and wider collaboration in AI, cloud infrastructure, quantum computing and other emerging technologies.
With MetLife President and CEO Michel A. Khalaf, he discussed the company’s growth opportunities in India and the expanding insurance and financial services sector.
He also met Mark Tucker, Non-Executive Chairman of AIA Group. They talked about AIA’s engagement in India and openings in insurance and financial services, including in the context of the government’s aim of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’.
Beauty and personal care
With Estée Lauder Companies President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie, Goyal discussed growth opportunities in India, including more manufacturing and sourcing, and India’s growing beauty and personal care market.
According to the ministry, the meetings covered India’s growth prospects and investment opportunities in financial services, manufacturing, energy, technology, AI and other sectors, along with ways to strengthen India–US economic and commercial ties.
Related: Piyush Goyal to visit US for G20 trade meeting and India-US trade talks
Also read: Piyush Goyal tells G20 trade ministers India has no structural excess capacity, backs WTO rules