Washington, DC – Indian based companies are responsible for creating tens of thousands of jobs and $15 billion in investments across the United States, according to a new report released recently from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Grant Thornton (GT).
Commenting on the report, Arun K. Singh, Indian Ambassador to the US said, “The Indian industry is making a significant contribution to the US economy, investing billions of dollars and creating thousands of jobs across states and sectors. This trend has grown stronger over the years and is continuing to show remarkable progress.”
“Today Indian companies are not just investing and creating jobs, they have also become significant stakeholders in the growth and prosperity of their local communities. Their linkages run deep through the support extended by them to education programs and capacity building. The CII study draws attention to the growing contribution and influence of the Indian industry, which forms an important component of our growing and vibrant relationship with the United States,” added Ambassador Singh.
CII released the study on Capitol Hill during an event that highlight the contributions of Indian companies to the US economy, in the form of FDI, jobs created and saved, research and development, skills training and local corporate social responsibility initiatives. A host of US lawmakers and industry giants graced the occasion, commenting on the role played by the Indian Industry.
US Senator Mark Warner (Virginia), Co-Chair, Senate India Caucus said, “A cornerstone of relations between India and US is the thriving commercial exchange between the countries. As India surges forward to become the fourth fastest growing source of FDI into the US, it is critical that we recognize the positive impact of Indian business investments in the country. In Virginia, Indian companies have been key players in creating jobs and engaging communities.”
Congressman Ami Bera (California), said, “As the only Indian American currently serving in Congress and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, I’ve seen firsthand the contributions the Indian American community has made to our country. I also believe that growing the economic partnership between India and the US will benefit both economies and bring new jobs to Sacramento County.”
“I’m proud to help advance the economic and political dialogue between India and the United States. The Indian American community and Indian American business owners have been a critical part of the economic and social fabric of the nation, and I hope to see the United States continue to positively engage with these groups in the future,” Bera hoped.
Congressman George Holding (North Carolina), Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans was upbeat on the relationship saying, “The friendship between the United States and India has grown stronger over the past year. And both our nations are better for it. Indian businesses have brought jobs to North Carolina and, at the same time, doors have opened for American companies to offer their goods and services to people in India. I am glad to see, as today’s event proves, that the diplomatic and business bonds – between our nations – continue to grow stronger.”
Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (New Jersey) declared herself as “a Representative from a state with one of the largest and most thriving Indian-American communities in the country,” adding, “I know just how much Indian-owned companies contribute to our economy. In New Jersey, and across the country, these companies create jobs and invest in our communities. We must continue to highlight the positive role they frequently play here in the U.S., and find opportunities to expand our relationships further.”
For the first time, the report, “Indian Roots, American Soil,” also captured a state-by-state breakdown of tangible investments made and jobs created by 100 Indian companies doing business in the United States. New Jersey, California, Texas, Illinois and New York are home to the most Americans directly employed by Indian companies. Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, and New Jersey have the highest foreign direct investment (FDI) from Indian companies.
Key takeaways from the report:
* Together, 100 Indian companies employ more than 91,000 people across 35 states and the District of Columbia.
* The total value of tangible investments made by these 100 companies exceeds $15.3 billion.
* The top five states in which Indian companies have generated maximum employment are: New Jersey (9.278 jobs), California (8.937 jobs), Texas (6,230 jobs), Illinois (4,779 jobs) and New York (4,134 jobs).
* The top five states in which Indian companies have contributed the highest foreign direct investment are: Texas ($3.84 billion), Pennsylvania ($3.56 billion), Minnesota ($1.8 billion), New York ($1.01 billion) and New Jersey ($1 billion).
* The average amount of investment received from Indian companies per state is $443 million.
* 84.5% of the companies plan to make more investments in the United States.
* 90% of the companies plan to hire more employees locally in the next five years.
Participating companies in the Capitol Hill event included Bank of Baroda, Birlasoft, Cyient, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, EsselPropack, Exim Bank, ICICI Bank, Infosys, ITC Infotech, Larsen &Tourbo, Mahindra USA, Mindteck, NIIT, Piramal Healthcare, State Bank of India, Sun Pharma, Taj Hotels and Resorts, TATA Communications, TATA Group, TATA Consultancy Services, Torrent Pharma, Wipro and Wockhardt
Confederation of Indian Industry in partnership with Carnegie Endowment for International Peace organized a day -long conference “The Future of the US-India Partnership Ten Years after the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative” on July 13, 2015 in Washington DC. The conference was followed by Gala dinner featuring Mr Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States.
The following is a summary of the comments made by attending eminent industrialists.
Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII:
“Indian Roots American Soil is CII’s flagship event on Capitol Hill and is part of our ongoing effort to highlight the positive stories of Indian companies’ contributions to the US economy and society. Our aim, through this event is to highlight the range and depth of Indian investments in the United States. India is now the fourth fastest growing source of investments into America – this is a very critical aspect of the burgeoning bilateral US-India business story and one that has an immediate and visible positive impact on the local communities where these companies operate. It’s a story that needs to be told and re-told.”
Sumit Mazumder, President, CII:
“Indian Industry today is bullish on the US-India partnership. Our companies are deeply committed to the US market and are well integrated into the local communities where they are investing and creating jobs. PM (Narendra) Modi and President (Barack) Obama’s vision for the US-India relationship is in many ways best exemplified through these Indian companies in America that though have Indian roots, but are completely enmeshed into US soil.”
James Shapiro, Resident Director – North America, Tata Sons Limited:
“We are proud to be part of the Indian FDI story and are thrilled to be represented at today’s CII event on Capitol Hill. The Tata Group has had operations and investments in the US market for many decades. Today we have 12 companies with an operating presence in the market, in very diverse industries including, software and IT services, hotels, automobiles, telecom, chemicals and engineering. Commitment to our core stakeholders – customers, employees and the local communities we operate in — is at the core of the Tata philosophy and the way we conduct business in the United States.”
Mani Iyer, President, Mahindra USA:
“This has been an exciting year for Mahindra as our growth comes across all levels to better service the needs of our customers, dealers, suppliers and partners. We have added a fifth distribution facility in the US, entered the utility vehicle market with our mPACT XTV series that are made in the USA and we are also investing $1 million in a major expansion of our parts department to support our dealer network. We continue to give back to our communities and invest in our brand, we will be adding resources in managerial and leadership positions within the next 3 years, as we become a future-ready organization on our journey to become of the Top 50 most admired global brands.”
Sandeep Dadlani – EVP & Head Americas, Infosys Ltd, Trustee – Infosys Foundation USA:
“On behalf of the 18,000 Infosys employees across America, I am pleased to participate in an event that will bring positive energy to the US-India business dialogue. Infosys helps American companies renew their core business and innovate into new areas, allowing them to compete and succeed in the global marketplace every day. Through Infosys Foundation USA, we’re also giving back, investing millions to help schoolchildren and workers across America build computer skills, and inspire Makers of all ages to showcase their creativity.”
Umang Vohra, Executive Vice President & Head North America, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Inc.:
“With over two decades of experience in the country, we are proud that Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories has become one of the leading generic drug companies in the US. We are accelerating access to expensive medicines in the US through our foray into development of complex generics and use of advanced technologies. Our investments in Princeton, New Jersey; Shreveport, Louisiana; Bristol, Tennessee and Middleburgh, New York have not only created but saved hundreds of jobs. We are proud to be part of the Indian Investment story in the US and we will continue to expand our footprint here in the years to come by investing in infrastructure, technology and operations.”
Vivek Sharma, CEO, Piramal Healthcare:
“Piramal Healthcare has greatly benefitted from its investments in the United States – we have found the business and investment climate to be conducive to the growth of our core business. As a global organization with Indian roots, we are closely engaging with our US partners to deliver innovative and cutting edge products and solutions to not just the US domestic market, but at a global scale. Through initiatives such as the CII event on Capitol Hill today, our aim is to highlight our commitment to the United States-we are here for the long term!”