Navigating the U.S.-India Relationship: A conversation with Ambassador Sandhu of India and Congressman Krishnamoorthi

On March 19, 2021 the Meridian Corporate Council partnered with Caterpillar to host a virtual conversation with H.E. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Ambassador of India to the United States and Congressman S. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL, 8), for a discussion on their vision for the future of the U.S.- India relationship.

Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu was nominated to serve as the Ambassador of India to the United States on February 3, 2020. Ambassador Sandhu has a distinguished international career, spanning over thirty years in the Indian Foreign Service. Prior to his current assignment in Washington DC, Ambassador Sandhu was High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka from January 2017 to January 2020

Congressman S. Raja Krishnamoorthi represents the 8th District of Illinois. He serves on several committees and caucuses throughout the House of Representatives including the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Co-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Immigration Task Force, and as an Assistant Whip for the Democratic caucus.

Throughout the webinar, Ambassador Sandhu and Congressman Krishnamoorthi acknowledged that the bilateral relationship between India and the United States will be crucial to the revitalization of the global economy. Ambassador Sandhu highlighted the country’s PLI Schemes, a national policy series that encourages foreign companies to expand manufacturing centers, will secure the global supply chain. Ambassador Sandhu explained that utilizing PLIs as an economic tool will enhance India’s local economy and increase U.S. business returns. Representative S. Raja Krishnamoorthi noted the Quadrilateral Initiative (QUAD) commitment to provide 1 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccine around the world by 2022 exemplifies the beginning of a strengthened, refocused partnership between the U.S. and our Indo-Pacific allies. He stated that he is hopeful that this healthy cooperation will remain powerful as the COVID-19 crisis subsides.