Earlier this week, the North Dakota Trade Office hosted the Consul General of India, Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, during his visit with North Dakota companies and government officials. Dr. Sayeed, along with Consul (Commerce) D.B. Bhati, discussed U.S.-India trade relations and opportunities in India for North Dakota companies.
The Consul General began his tour of North Dakota on Wednesday morning with visits to a local soybean processing facility and NDSU’s Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering department. He then spoke during the North Dakota Trade Office’s “Doing Business in India” Trade Talk, which brought together North Dakota companies interested in the Indian market.
The Consul General also met with Lt. Governor Drew Wrigley, Chairman of the North Dakota Trade Office, as well as state officials from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Commerce.
“North Dakota exporters continue their robust expansion into global markets,” said Lt. Governor Wrigley. “We hope to better understand the business culture and market in India as a result of Dr. Sayeed’s visit, and we look forward to mutually beneficial business partnerships.”
The Consul General’s visit is a stepping stone in the development of an NDTO-led India Trade Mission scheduled for February 2016. During the trade mission, participants from various industries will meet with potential buyers and attend market briefing sessions.
India is North Dakota’s 8th largest export market, with exports valued at $35 million in 2014, a 20% increase from 2013. A huge market of 1.25 billion people, half of them under 27, India remains an attractive market for U.S. businesses. It is the 7th largest economy in the world and 3rd largest Asian economy. India has remained resilient despite cooling economies around the world. A growing financial market, declining inflation, large English-speaking population, and a stable democratic government further benefit the North Dakota exporter.