NJ Mission to India Deepens Economic and Cultural Partnership

Choose New Jersey, the state’s leading non-profit business attraction organization, recently completed its second Governor-led economic mission to India. The six-day, four-city mission, held Sept. 19-24, included meetings in New Delhi, Kochi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai and was attended by Gov. Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, Choose New Jersey, and a New Jersey delegation that included elected officials and representatives from government, business, and academia. The mission focused on deepening economic, academic, and cultural ties with India and delivered commitments to create nearly 400 jobs in New Jersey.

“It is an honor to return to India and see firsthand the progress we have made since my historic 2019 visit as the first sitting New Jersey governor to visit India,” said Murphy. “Since that time, we have built a strong foundation of collaboration, and Indian companies have become key contributors to New Jersey’s economic growth. We are committed to deepening this partnership and creating even more opportunities for growth together.”

Recent expansions, including Biocon’s ribbon cutting earlier this month, were highlighted during the mission, underscoring the ongoing impact of Indian investment in New Jersey. Other companies, such as Aurobindo Pharmaceuticals and Enzene Biosciences, also expanded their presence in New Jersey, reinforcing the momentum of this growing partnership. Since the first economic mission in 2019, Choose New Jersey opened the New Jersey India Center, with offices in both New Delhi and Bengaluru, to provide direct support and resources to Indian companies. And in 2024, the Governor established the New Jersey-India Commission to further strengthen ties and promote new opportunities for collaboration between the two regions.

“India remains one of New Jersey’s top foreign direct investors year after year, and this mission underscored how vital that partnership is,” said Wesley Mathews, President and CEO of Choose New Jersey. “Over the past few days, we met with hundreds of Indian business and government leaders and secured expansion commitments across technology, life sciences, and retail that will bring nearly 400 new jobs to New Jersey. I am deeply grateful to all of our sponsors and partners whose support made this mission possible. With the nation’s largest Indian-American community per capita, our state offers both the business advantages and welcoming environment that allow Indian companies and families to thrive.”

New Jersey and India exchanged $11.3 billion in bilateral trade in 2023, and India’s deep investments have helped to create nearly 3,000 New Jersey jobs since Governor Murphy took office in 2018. The six-day mission delivered significant expansion commitments from Indian companies across the technology, life sciences, and retail sectors. These expansions are expected to create nearly 400 new jobs in New Jersey:

• Axtria Inc. (Berkeley Heights) – Expansion, 50 jobs
• Biocon (Cranbury) – Manufacturing facility, 100 jobs
• Indegene (Princeton) – Expansion, 50 jobs
• Kalyan Jewellers (Edison) – Expansion, including U.S. HQ, two stores, 25 jobs
• Lupin (Bridgewater and Somerset) – Expansion, 30 jobs
• Tata Communications (Matawan) – Expansion, 30 jobs, projected over the next 3-4 years
• Umedica Labs (Parsippany) – Expansion, 5 jobs
• Bliss GVS – US HQ, 30 jobs
• Rubicon – New acquired warehouse facility in East Brunswick, 15 jobs
• Meteoric Biopharma – R&D Lab, 25 jobs
• BDR Pharmaceuticals – Subsidiary in Jersey City, 25 jobs
• Additional expansions and investments are expected in the coming months, signaling continued job growth for the state.

Mayor Samip Joshi, who joined the mission as a delegate and whose town of Edison is home to one of the largest Indian diasporas in New Jersey and Oak Tree Road, a vibrant hub of Indian restaurants, shops, and cultural life, emphasized how stronger ties between the state and India translate into economic opportunities and cultural enrichment for residents.

“New Jersey’s economic mission to India highlights the incredible opportunities that come when global partnerships meet local communities,” said Samip Joshi, Mayor of Edison. “For Edison, home to one of the largest Indian-American communities in the state, these strengthened ties bring not only jobs and investment, but also cultural exchange that enriches the lives of our residents.”

The delegation flew aboard United Airlines, the mission’s official travel partner. As one of New Jersey’s leading private employers with more than 14,000 local employees, United offers daily nonstop flights from Newark to New Delhi and serves more than 140 domestic and international destinations from Newark Liberty International Airport. Earlier this month, the airline also announced plans to add 2,500 jobs to Newark Airport through 2026.

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