New Jersey Economic Mission Trip to India 2025 City Recap – Kochi and Bengaluru

Kochi and Bengaluru, India – Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation continued Choose New Jersey’s Governor-led economic mission in the cities of Kochi and Bengaluru. They met with key business leaders, announced major partnerships, and opened new doors for trade, investment, and innovation between the two states.

Below are photos and additional details from the day’s events in Kochi and Bengaluru:

Kochi

Dinner Reception with LuLu Group International

Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation attended a dinner reception hosted by LuLu Group International Chairman M. A. Yusuff Ali. The evening focused on building connections between New Jersey and the State of Kerala across culture, politics, media, and business. Representatives from the film industry, politics, media organizations, and emerging digital voices attended.

Kochi

Roundtable Event with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM): Global Technology Entrepreneur Summit

Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation attended a roundtable event with Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM). It included visits to Fab Lab Kerala, a collaboration between KSUM, MIT, and Makers Village, India’s first electronics hardware incubator. Governor Murphy and the delegation engaged with startup founders, industry leaders, and representatives from Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) to explore opportunities for collaboration in technology, entrepreneurship, and higher education. Discussions focused on strengthening long-term economic and cultural ties between New Jersey and Kerala, while fostering innovation, investment, and research partnerships.

Bengaluru

New Jersey Signs Sister State MOU with State of Karnataka that will Drive Technological Innovation, Research, and Entrepreneurship Collaborations

Governor Murphy announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) establishing a Sister State Agreement between the New Jersey Department of State and the State of Karnataka, India’s technology hub known for its thriving startup and innovation ecosystem. The agreement solidifies a partnership to strengthen collaboration across technology, life sciences, and innovation sectors. The agreement, signed in advance on behalf of New Jersey by Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State Tahesha Way and Dr. Ekroop Caur, Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, strengthens collaboration in technological innovation, research, and entrepreneurship. The agreement also creates opportunities for startups to access soft-landing programs, build industry and academic connections, and expand globally. This initiative highlights both regions’ commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, further deepening ties between New Jersey and India’s technology hub.

Bengaluru

Roundtable Event with Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas

Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation participated in a collaborative roundtable discussion facilitated by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) and hosted by Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas in Mumbai. The program featured remarks from IACC leadership and brought together C-suite executives from leading law firms and corporations to discuss opportunities for collaboration and investment in New Jersey.

Bengaluru

Governor Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation Meet with Microland Executives

Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and members of the New Jersey delegation met with Rajesh Kharidehal, Chief Financial Officer, and Satesh Sukumar, Senior Vice President and Global Head—Platforms, at Microland. Microland is a pioneering IT infrastructure services and consulting company headquartered in Bengaluru.

Bengaluru

Governor Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey Delegation Attend SelectUSA High Tea Event with U.S. Consulate

Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation attended a SelectUSA High Tea Event with the U.S. Consulate. This gathering brought together more than a dozen companies exploring expansion into the United States from sectors such as fintech, medtech, spacetech, deeptech, and aerospace. The program also featured a New Jersey pitch delivered by Bill Noonan, Chief Business Development Officer at Choose New Jersey, and Tim Crouch, Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Director of the New Jersey West Coast Office, who highlighted the state’s strengths in innovation, technology, and business growth.

Bengaluru

Governor Murphy Announces Seven New Jersey-India Higher Education Partnerships to Advance Research and Innovation

Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation attended a signing ceremony, formalizing seven Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between colleges and universities in New Jersey and India. The agreements mark significant strides in higher education collaboration between the two regions. India is one of New Jersey’s top trade partners, with two-way trade in goods totaling $11.3 billion annually, highlighting the strong economic ties supporting these educational collaborations. The MOUs include:

• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) + Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) (Manipal, Karnataka)
• NJIT + Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management (VJIM) (Hyderabad, Telangana)
• NJIT + Dayananda Sagar University (DSU) (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
• Rowan University + Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre (BBC) (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey + Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Sri Sathya Sai Dt.(Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh)
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey + Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (Whitefield, Bengaluru)
• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey + Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh)

Reception with TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs) Charter Members, Industry Leaders, and Higher Education Institutions

Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation attended a reception with TiE charter members, industry leaders, and higher education representatives. The event featured remarks from Governor Murphy, TiE leadership, and prominent industry figures, including Ashok Soota, Executive Chairman of Happiest Minds Technologies, and Akshita Sachdeva, Co-Founder of Trestle Labs. Tim Crouch, Choose New Jersey Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Director of the New Jersey West Coast Office, also played an active role in highlighting New Jersey’s leadership in film, AI, and emerging technologies. The reception provided an opportunity to discuss collaborations in technology, entrepreneurship, and academic exchange, reinforcing New Jersey’s commitment to supporting innovation and strengthening partnerships with India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Bengaluru

Speaking Session on “The India-U.S. Innovation Corridor” at Blume’s Annual Batch Conference

Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey delegation participated in a speaking session at Blume Ventures’ Annual Event. Blume Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm supporting startups across technology-driven sectors, including consumer tech, fintech, B2B, and life sciences, with a strong focus on both Indian, U.S., and UK markets. During the session, Governor Murphy highlighted opportunities for collaboration between New Jersey and India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. He emphasized the state’s commitment to innovation, startup growth, and transatlantic business partnerships. The event brought together startup founders and representatives from major venture capital firms. It provided a platform for dialogue on investment, scaling businesses, and expanding cross-border opportunities.

Bengaluru

Governor Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and New Jersey delegates Attend Town Hall with Students from Christ University

Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the New Jersey delegation attended a Town Hall with more than 250 students from Christ University. The session, themed “Youth as Global Citizens: Building Bridges through Education and Exchange,” was conducted in a fireside chat format and moderated by Mr. Dennison Joseph, Associate Director & Head of Global Partnerships, International Admissions, Student Welfare & Scholarships at Christ University. Students had the opportunity to engage directly with the Governor and First Lady on topics such as entrepreneurship and global education initiatives. The event highlighted opportunities for academic collaboration and knowledge exchange between New Jersey and India, while fostering a meaningful dialogue on preparing the next generation of leaders and advancing cross-border educational partnerships.