Op-Ed: New Jersey and India — partners in progress, anchors of growth

The United States and India are natural partners — two democracies whose people and economies are shaping the future of technology, health care and innovation. While trade tensions sometimes dominate national headlines, New Jersey tells a different story: Our ties with India have never been stronger.

I have had the privilege of seeing this relationship from multiple vantage points. As a U.S. diplomat in New Delhi, I worked on trade policy and witnessed the enormous potential of our nations striving toward $500 billion in two-way trade. Today, as India rises to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028, I am honored to help ensure that New Jersey and India grow even closer. And as an Indian American, this work is personal — building bridges between my family’s heritage and the state I call home.

The results speak for themselves. New Jersey hosts more Indian companies than any other U.S. state — 211 in total across life sciences, technology and more. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, these firms created more than 250 new jobs here, a clear vote of confidence in New Jersey as India’s launchpad to North America.

Our academic institutions are also forging bold connections. During our 2024 mission to India, Kean University partnered with the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises to deepen biotechnology ties. The New Jersey Innovation Institute joined forces with Hyderabad’s T-Hub Foundation, one of the world’s largest startup incubators, to foster deep-tech collaboration. Rowan University, the Confederation of Indian Industry and our Department of State launched new research pathways. These initiatives are fueling innovation across borders.

But this alliance is about more than economics. It is rooted in people and culture. New Jersey has the highest concentration of persons of Indian origin in the United States, and their vibrancy is felt everywhere — from Jersey City’s India Square to Robbinsville’s BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir to the Oak Tree Road corridor, the largest Indian business hub in America. These communities make New Jersey not just a gateway for Indian investment, but a home away from home.

Gov. Phil Murphy has been pivotal in advancing this relationship. In 2019, he became the first sitting New Jersey governor to lead a mission to India, signing sister-state agreements with Gujarat and Telangana and launching the New Jersey India Center. Last December, Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way signed a Letter of Intent with Karnataka, home to Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley. We expect to elevate that into a full sister-state agreement this month, joining Gujarat and Telangana.

Momentum continues with the New Jersey-India Commission, created in 2024 by Murphy to strengthen economic, cultural and social ties. In just 18 months, the commission has engaged leading Indian associations such as the Confederation of Indian Industry and NASSCOM, India’s umbrella technology group.

Later this month, Murphy will lead his second mission to India, focused on innovation, higher education, film and new business opportunities. Together, we will expand partnerships, support Indian companies scaling globally and showcase New Jersey as a premier destination for growth.

The story of New Jersey and India is one of shared ambition and shared success. Indian companies know what New Jerseyans have always known: Our state is a great place to do business and raise a family. For me, this partnership reflects both professional purpose and personal pride. As New Jersey thrives and India rises, our bond will remain a cornerstone of progress for both economies and a model for the world.

Wesley Mathews is CEO and president of Choose New Jersey and chair of the New Jersey-India Commission.