Seattle, WA: The Consulate General of India in Seattle hosted the second edition of the Invest India Business Forum on Tuesday at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center, bringing together senior business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to spotlight India’s expanding investment landscape and export potential. Organized in partnership with the Montana World Affairs Council and ZOHO, the forum underscored growing commercial linkages between India and the US Pacific Northwest across technology, agriculture, healthcare, education, and emerging industries.
The event drew CEOs and senior executives from several multinational companies based in the Greater Seattle region, including representatives from Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce, and T-Mobile, alongside local civic leaders and economic development officials. Experts from sectors such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, photonics, agri-technology, healthcare, and higher education delivered detailed presentations outlining India’s rapid progress, policy reforms, and opportunities for foreign investment. Speakers emphasized India’s scale, skilled workforce, and innovation-driven growth as key factors attracting global companies seeking long-term expansion.
A major outcome of the forum was the announcement of Washington State’s largest-ever trade mission to India, scheduled from January 28 to February 7, 2026. The mission will be led by Greater Seattle Partners (GSP) in collaboration with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. The delegation is expected to include more than 30 members representing the Port of Seattle, the City of Bellevue’s Economic Development Department, the Mayor of Redmond, and senior leadership from major corporations such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Boeing. Addressing the gathering, Rebecca Lovell, Interim President and CEO of GSP, said the mission would focus on deepening commercial partnerships, attracting investment, and exploring new avenues for collaboration between Washington State and India’s fast-growing economy.
Beyond investment discussions, the forum also served as a platform to showcase India’s export-ready products tailored for the US Pacific Northwest market. Attendees sampled premium Indian “Bhagwa” variety pomegranates, which are expected to reach local US retail stores in the near future. Grown primarily in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka, these pomegranates are globally recognized for their deep red color, rich flavor, and high nutritional value. India, one of the world’s leading pomegranate producers, has seen rising international demand since the United States granted market access to Indian pomegranates in 2023.
Other products on display included Araku coffee sourced from the foothills of the Eastern Ghats in southern India, One District One Product (ODOP) handicrafts and cultural heritage items representing all 28 Indian states, as well as select Indian wines and handcrafted spirits. Organizers said the experiential displays were designed to connect US buyers with Indian producers and highlight the diversity and quality of India’s agricultural and artisanal exports.
Healthcare collaboration emerged as a key theme during the forum. Eric Wexler, CEO of Providence, highlighted India’s growing role as a global healthcare innovation hub. He spoke about Providence’s recently inaugurated Global Capability Center in Hyderabad, which is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs. The center will focus on developing AI-enabled advanced healthcare technology solutions by leveraging India’s deep talent pool in digital health, data science, and engineering.
Technology and digital self-reliance were also in focus, with representatives from ZOHO demonstrating how AI-driven, locally developed data models are being deployed in India to support data sovereignty and the country’s push for Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India. Participants noted that the Government of India’s recent adoption of ZOHO’s office suite and other technology solutions has sent a positive signal to domestic startups and reinforced confidence in homegrown innovation.
The forum was attended by a large delegation of senior business leaders from the Montana World Affairs Council, further reflecting the widening geographic scope of India–US engagement. Organizers noted that a youth delegation led by the Council had recently visited India, and Montana Governor Greg Gianforte had hosted a welcome reception for them at the State Capitol in Helena, underscoring sustained people-to-people ties.
Overall, the Invest India Business Forum aimed to strengthen economic connections between India and the US Pacific Northwest by showcasing India’s investment opportunities in priority sectors while promoting Indian exports with strong market potential in the Seattle region. The event aligned with the Consulate General of India’s broader efforts to advance trade, tourism, and technology linkages, positioning the forum as a catalyst for deeper industry partnerships and long-term economic cooperation.
(Source: Consulate General of India, Seattle)
