Mercer Times

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State Tahesha Way is set to lead the inaugural New Jersey-India Commission trip to India from December 8 to 16, 2024. The delegation will visit five cities: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, and New Delhi. This announcement was made by Lieutenant Governor Way during an event at Samudhra Restaurant in Franklin Park hosted by the New Jersey-India Commission.

In 2019, Governor Phil Murphy became the first sitting New Jersey governor to visit India. That mission, coordinated by Choose New Jersey, resulted in over 1,200 new jobs through the expansion of three Indian companies in New Jersey. The upcoming trip aims to strengthen economic ties with one of New Jersey’s largest trade partners and deepen cultural and educational connections.

"As Secretary of State, I was delighted to welcome the Commission to my department and have been overseeing efforts to strengthen ties between New Jersey and India," said Lieutenant Governor Way. "New Jersey’s Indian American population continues to rapidly grow. Through our shared vision, we are committed to maximizing the potential of our relationship."

Wesley Mathews, Chair of the New Jersey-India Commission and President and CEO of Choose New Jersey, emphasized India's importance as a global partner for economic development and cultural exchange. "Building on the success of past initiatives, this mission is a pivotal opportunity to deepen our ties with one of the world's fastest-growing economies," he stated.

Rajpal Bath, Executive Director of the New Jersey-India Commission, highlighted India's role as a key global partner for New Jersey due to its large Indian diaspora. "Following Governor Murphy’s mission...we will continue to grow the relationship through the Commission," Bath remarked.

The delegation's itinerary includes meetings with government officials and industry leaders in higher education, life sciences, and technology sectors. Media interested in accompanying the delegation should RSVP by November 29.