NEW DELHI, India — The World Trade Center Utah’s two-week trade mission to India kicks off Monday.
A handful of Utah companies from different sectors, including healthcare and manufacturing, will travel to six cities, starting in Mumbai and ending in Bangalore over the next 13 days.
Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, a Republican, is part of the delegation. He is accompanied by Aundrea Peterson, his deputy chief of staff. Reps. Jason Thompson of Cache Valley, and Matt MacPherson of West Valley City will also join Adams.
These lawmakers hope to strengthen partnerships and advance the state’s economic interests in one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Their trip comes on the heels of President Donald Trump’s trip to Asia, where he struck a trade deal with China. Trump agreed to drop fentanyl tariffs on China from 20% to 10%, effective immediately.
In return, China offered to continue exporting rare earth minerals for a year, after it imposed strict export controls on the materials.
But New Delhi is still in the midst of negotiations with the White House over the 50% tariffs levied by Trump. And this isn’t the only thorn in the relationship between this South Asian country and the U.S.
Most recently, the Trump administration established a $100,000 fee for American companies who want foreign nationals on their payroll through the H-1B work visa program.
Several exceptions have been issued for this rule, including for the high-skilled immigrant workers who attended U.S. universities and already live in the U.S.
This fee impacts many Indian-nationals, who make up 70% of the recipients of these H-1B work visas.
The University of Utah’s associate dean, Nate Friedman as well as representatives from Nucleus Institute, the Beehive State’s innovation hub, and Salt Lake City’s Neumont University, which is interested in recruiting international students for their online degrees, are also part of the tour.
Even though Trump is urging American companies to invest in the U.S., companies like Apple and Ford continue to look toward India for cost advantages, access to a skilled workforce and government incentives. Many Utah companies are doing the same.
Beddy’s, which sells bedding products, wants to strengthen its textile manufacturing in India on this trade mission. Lifetime Products, which designs and sells durable consumer goods, and Ogden-based JKD Products, which supplies wiring harnesses to the trailer and truck bed industry, hope to explore manufacturing operations in India.
Integrated Engineering, a producer of automotive performance products, currently leans on China and is interested in diversifying its supply chain.
From the healthcare field, Monere Corp. wants to work on expanding its footprint in India for an innovative and patent-pending anemia detection and monitoring.
One of the goals of Co-Diagnostics, Inc., a molecular diagnostic company which developed PCR testing for COVID-19, tuberculosis and mosquito-borne illnesses, is to address diseases like tuberculosis and HPV in India.
New Delhi-based Indus International Research Foundation is an organization of scholars and professionals in India and abroad. Its founder and president Guruprasad Sowle wants open dialogue on trade, education policy and economic development between the two countries.
The entire delegation is led by World Trade Center’s CEO Jonathan Freedman, Managing Director and COO David Carlebach, and senior director Jared Anderson.
The WTC Utah wrapped up a separate 80-delegate trade mission to New Zealand and Australia just a couple of weeks ago. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined that tour
The itinerary begins in Mumbai, Maharashtra, where the delegation will meet with the Indian Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce and the Millennial India International Chamber of Commerce Industry & Agriculture.
In Hyderabad, Telangana state, the delegation will meet Shri D. Sridhar Babu, the Telangana Minister for Industries & Commerce as well as tour the T-Hub, a global innovation hub and start-up incubator.
The delegation will also sit in on welfare ministerial meetings in Goa as well as enjoy this coastal city that is known for its historical churches.
After a weekend in Goa, the delegation will travel to New Delhi, India’s capital, where they will sit down with Sergio Goris, the new U.S. Ambassador to India, and other ministers in the union territory.
Other meetings in Delhi are with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Capital Venture Association.
In Bangalore, the final stop of the two-week trade mission, the delegation will attend an event hosted by the Department of Industries and Commerce.
This is where they will have a chance to explore “Art of Living,” meditation, breath work and wellness programs.