Greater Seattle Leads Historic 2026 International Leadership Mission to India

Washington State Delegation Strengthens Economic and Cultural Ties

By Josh Davis, Chief Economic Development Officer & Senior Vice President

In February 2026, Greater Seattle Partners and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce led the largest and most far-reaching mission to India ever undertaken by the State of Washington. Delegates and supporting organizations included Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Snohomish County, the City of Bellevue, the City of Redmond, the Port of Seattle, the Lt. Governor’s Office, the Washington State Department of Commerce, and many other public and private leaders, totaling 35 participants traveling from the Greater Seattle region to Delhi, Agra, and Mumbai.

For decades, leading companies from the Greater Seattle region have engaged India. However, this was the first time there had been a major venture from the region and the State of Washington to engage India in a meaningful, and even ceremonial, way.

In 2012, Governor Christine Gregoire had the foresight, on behalf of the State of Washington, to lead the first major mission to India. Greater Seattle Partners can trace its founding to the vision of Governor Gregoire, and this mission can be seen as a continuation of efforts initiated by her enduring energy and leadership.

Greater Seattle Partners Interim President & CEO Rebecca Lovell and Chief Economic Development Officer & SVP Josh Davis represented GSP on the mission. This was Josh’s fifth mission to India during his international economic development career, and he shared that it was the most impactful and successful yet. Much credit goes to GSP’s strong partnership with the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce in making the mission a success. Gabriella Buono and Leigh Jacobson advanced the mission in February 2025 and delivered in a major way with GSP in February 2026 on behalf of the region.

The Indian diaspora in the Seattle region gave the mission even greater energy and gravitas, with high-caliber delegates including Seattle University Roundglass Center’s Sital Kalantry, Tasveer Film Festival Executive Director Rita Meher, Tech Mahindra SVP Dhiresh Kumar, FDI and trade attorney at Buchalter Kripa Upadhyay, and many others in the Seattle region’s Indian community supporting the mission.

Today, approximately 131,000 Indians live in the Greater Seattle region and around 94,000 were born in India. Communities such as Bothell East, Mill Creek East and Redmond boast more than 20% Indian populations.

Cultural Diplomacy and Economic Connectivity

The International Leadership Mission began with cultural immersion at the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, providing an opportunity to absorb an aspect of Indian history while stretching legs after multiple flights. One goal of this mission is to establish a direct flight from India to Seattle. Many regions have traveled to India to promote a direct route, and this mission included high-level engagement with both Air India and Boeing to advance that effort. Following meetings with the Port of Seattle (Sea-Tac Airport) and regional leaders, Air India indicated that Seattle is “at the top of the list for the next destination.”

Strategic Engagement in Delhi

India’s Ministry of External Affairs hosted the Seattle region as a welcome for the start of engagements in Delhi. GSP Interim President & CEO Rebecca Lovell and Chamber President & CEO Joe Nguyen delivered remarks to kick off the mission with the Minister.

In Delhi, the delegation participated in a briefing with senior staff at the U.S. Embassy, followed by a lunch hosted by Microsoft India. The delegation also met with Amazon leadership in Delhi. Greater Seattle headquartered Microsoft and Amazon have announced more than $50 billion in investments in India this decade.

A highlight of the mission was the pinnacle reception organized in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Newly appointed U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor provided the delegation with an early briefing on the U.S.–India trade deal announced during the Seattle region’s time in India. Ambassador Gor attended the reception hosted by Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs Jonathan Heimer, along with the Deputy Chief of Mission. This strong presence from the U.S. Embassy recognized both the Seattle region’s global influence and India’s strategic importance to the United States, with Greater Seattle serving as a key gateway for innovation.

The following day, Boeing India President Salil Gupte briefed the delegation on the details of the U.S.–India trade deal. Being present during this historic moment was a fortunate aspect of the mission. The agreement is expected to create positive impacts for businesses in Greater Seattle and across Washington State. Digital trade, manufacturing, and agriculture in Washington will all benefit from the new framework.

The delegation also engaged with Indian cultural traditions during a visit to Akshardham Temple, hosted by GM Swami, a leading representative of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS), which also has a temple in Redmond, WA. City of Redmond Mayor Angela Birney received special recognition during the visit, along with Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho, and Bellevue City Councilmember Lynne Robinson.

Business Engagement and Investment Opportunities in Mumbai

In Mumbai, the delegation experienced the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel next to the Gateway of India in the Colaba district. Flutes, sitars, candles, flowers, and incense filled the halls of the Taj Palace, immersing delegates in Indian culture.

The Taj Hotel group is owned by Tata, which also owns Air India and partners with Starbucks India. Tata companies maintain strong ties to the Seattle region, including Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Elxsi, and Tanishq Jewelry. The delegation met with Tata leadership at Taj properties to discuss expansion opportunities in the Seattle region. Meetings were also held with Tech Mahindra leadership regarding AI, quantum computing, and other sectors relevant to the Greater Seattle economy. Reliance Industries extended a rare invitation for the delegation to visit their corporate headquarters in Navi Mumbai, including access to their main boardroom in “Building One.”

Cultural Exchange and Creative Industry Collaboration

The Vedanta Academy further enriched the cultural experience by highlighting women’s roles in the Hindu tradition. The academy was founded by Swami Parthasarathy to cultivate intellectual development based on the wisdom of the Vedas. Swamiji has addressed audiences at the World Economic Forum, Microsoft, the Aspen Institute, and other global thought-leadership platforms. The delegation also experienced a deep dive into Bollywood through an engagement organized by the Tasveer Film Festival with leaders from India’s film industry. The visit concluded with a reception attended by many Bollywood actors and actresses.

Tasveer recently opened a permanent location in Seattle and welcomed more than 22 filmmakers from South Asian countries last year. Strengthening global ties within Seattle’s film industry is important as the City of Seattle, King County, and other partners continue working to support local film production and creative industries. Attracting more engagement with India’s film industry is a goal of this effort.

Promoting the Seattle Region to Indian Business Leaders

The World Trade Center Mumbai hosted the delegation for a major event promoting the Seattle region. Delegation leaders presented to more than 250 Indian business leaders, generating strong enthusiasm for engagement and collaboration.

The mission concluded with a visit to India’s largest port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), which handles more than 50 percent of India’s containerized cargo and manages more than 10 million TEUs annually. Port officials opened their operations center to the delegation, providing insight into logistics management systems and port efficiencies.

The Seattle region has already welcomed reciprocal delegations from India as a direct result of this mission, and a growing number of projects represent potential foreign direct investment flowing from the engagements. Greater Seattle Partners look forward to expanding our relationship with India and remains at the forefront of efforts across the United States to attract Indian investment.

In April, GSP will host another delegation from India through the SelectUSA Seattle Spinoff program, bringing international companies to the region for a familiarization tour. In this way, the mission continues to generate momentum and meaningful partnerships.

When we go there, they come here.

Photography credit: Alabastro Photography