New Jersey establishes India Commission to advance cultural, economic ties

Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey on Tuesday signed an executive order creating a commission for India, whose goal would be to promote bilateral investment, commerce, and cultural exchanges with the biggest democracy in the world.

Murphy announced the appointment of almost 40 members to the New Jersey-India Commission, led by veteran US ambassador Wesley Mathews, shortly after he signed the executive order.

“I am honoured to establish the New Jersey-India Commission to strengthen the cultural and economic ties between New Jersey and India for generations to come,” Murphy said.

“Following my visit to India in 2019, we have been committed to strengthening our relationship, building on the overlapping economic strengths that New Jersey and India have long shared,” he said.

“We take immense pride in the contributions of our vast Indian immigrant population and, through this commission, we can ensure that we seize a new century of opportunities to grow together and pioneer new possibilities,” Murphy said.

The commission aims to promote cultural and educational exchanges between New Jersey and India and sustainable long-term economic growth.

“Our partnership with New Jersey is unique in several ways,” said Consul General of India Binaya Srikanta Pradhan. “It is a potential story of dynamic convergence and confluence of India’s economic resilience, presence of a highly successful Indian-American community and America’s spirit of innovation, fostering a landscape ripe with opportunities across sectors,” he said.

Murphy’s initiative to establish the New Jersey-India Commission would add strength to already existing high level of economic engagement in terms of over USD10 billion trade with New Jersey or several two-way investments, Pradhan said.

“This would also give a boost to the strong people-to-people connect that exists between India and New Jersey including in areas of education and knowledge partnership. We also look forward to Governor Murphy’s visit to India in the near future to take forward our partnership to new heights,” he said.

The bulk of New Jersey’s immigrant population comes from India, which is also the state’s second-largest foreign direct investment.

Murphy oversaw an economic mission trip to India in September 2019, cultivating business ties and securing nearly 1,200 new employment through the expansion of three Indian firms’ operations in New Jersey.

India has made $2 billion in investments in New Jersey during the previous 20 years, contributing to the creation of about 6,000 employment in important industries including technology and life sciences.

“We are thrilled that the Governor has established the New Jersey-India Commission,” said Wesley Mathews, Chair of the Commission.

“The multiple economic missions the State has taken to India since 2019, including the number of sister-state relationships established and MOUs signed across higher education, life science, and the technology sectors prove that we have shared visions for our economies and peoples. I am eager to get to work with my colleagues in pursuit of an even stronger and more robust partnership,” he said.

The commission is expected to provide advice to the Governor as well as to the other New Jersey government agencies and departments.