India and the United States convened a high-level roundtable in Silicon Valley last week to strengthen collaboration on technology and artificial intelligence, emphasizing the shift from strategic planning to actionable implementation. The closed-door event, organised by the Consulate General of India in San Francisco in partnership with NASSCOM, brought together senior executives, venture capitalists, and academic experts from both nations under the theme “India-US Technology Partnership: From Strategic Intent to Execution.”
The discussions highlighted the transformative role of AI in global trade, labor markets, and the growing Indo-US technology corridor. Speakers noted that artificial intelligence represents a fundamental structural change in the global economy, calling for closer coordination among government, industry, and academia to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.
The NASSCOM delegation included Rajesh Nambiar, President; Shivendra Singh, Vice President for Global Trade Development; and Mayank Gautam, Director for Global Trade Development. Senior representatives from twelve leading Indian IT firms, including Infosys, Cognizant, HCL, and Nagarro, participated in the discussions, highlighting India’s growing role in global digital transformation and innovation.
India’s Consul General in San Francisco, Dr. K. Srikar Reddy, linked the roundtable discussions to broader geopolitical and economic developments, including the recently finalized India-US trade agreement. Under the deal, US tariffs on Indian goods will decrease from 50% to 18%, while India will reduce tariffs on US products. The agreement is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade and help both countries achieve the $500 billion target for goods and services trade by 2030.
Speakers emphasised the economic impact of Indian technology companies in the US, noting that they support hundreds of thousands of jobs and contribute roughly $103 billion to the US gross domestic product. The conversation also explored how generative AI presents new opportunities and challenges for collaboration between Indian and US firms.
Moderated by MR Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora, the session focused on the future of Indian IT services and software-as-a-service companies in an AI-driven environment. Participants stressed the importance of business model innovation, workforce reskilling, and outcome-based, AI-enabled service delivery. A “triple helix” approach involving government, industry, and academia was highlighted as critical for preparing future skills, updating curricula, and managing workforce transitions in line with rapid technological change.
The Silicon Valley roundtable underscores India and the US commitment to deepening tech cooperation, fostering innovation, and building a shared vision for AI and technology-driven growth.
