Mumbai, India (September 12, 2024)—The Milken Institute, in collaboration with the United States Mission in India, hosted a gala dinner on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai. The dinner brought together key leaders and influencers to explore India's future investment landscape, highlight emerging opportunities, and discuss avenues for partnership between the United States and India.

U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti delivered an opening address, with additional remarks provided by Arundhati Bhattacharya, the Chairperson and CEO of Salesforce, India. A panel discussion moderated by Menaka Doshi, Senior Editor of Bloomberg India, featured Nisha Biswal, Deputy CEO, U.S. Development Financial Corporation; Deepak Parekh, former Chairman HDFC; and Hemendra Kothari, Chairman DSP Investment Managers.

“The Building Financial Futures (BFF) program is our flagship initiative designed to bring American investors into India and expand long-term investment opportunities. This program aims to accelerate India’s economic success, empower women entrepreneurs, and strengthen global supply chains. There are unprecedented opportunities to benefit both our countries and deepen our relationship,” said Ambassador Garcetti.

Remarks focused on India's rapidly growing economy, which has seen its contribution to global GDP growth increase from 8 percent in 2001 to approximately 17.6 percent in 2023. India was highlighted as an attractive market for international investors with an expanding consumer market and a skilled workforce. The dinner roundtable facilitated conversations between leaders from U.S. investment funds and Indian businesses, delving into opportunities for collaboration across India's burgeoning sectors, including technology, infrastructure, and finance.

“We are focused on convening the conversations that are important to our community,” said Laura Deal Lacey, Executive Vice President of International at the Milken Institute. “With India leading in critical areas such as fintech, renewable energy, and biotech, we felt the time was right to bring together these stakeholders to discuss the future of investment in the region.”

The dinner was the Milken Institute’s first public convening in India and precedes its 11^th Asia Summit, September 18 – 20 in Singapore.

About the Milken Institute

The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what’s pressing now and what’s coming next. For more information, visit https://milkeninstitute.org/.