India-US trade deal could further boost already vibrant trade corridor: Citi India CEO
New Delhi, June 4
The proposed India-US trade agreement is expected to further strengthen trade and investment flows between the two countries and provide an additional boost to an already vibrant economic corridor, Citi India CEO K Balasubramanian said on Thursday.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of Citi's 2026 India Conference in Mumbai, Balasubramanian said the India-US corridor remains one of the most important markets for both India and Citi.
"The India-US corridor is a very important corridor for India as well as for Citi India. In fact, that is our largest corridor," he said.
Expressing optimism over the proposed trade agreement between the two countries, Balasubramanian said, "We are all excited and waiting in terms of when that is going to get announced, and our expectation is that that will further double up in terms of the already existing and vibrant trade corridor."
He noted that economic activity between India and the United States spans a wide range of sectors, including information technology, software, engineering and consumer businesses.
"If you look at the type of business that is happening in this corridor, we see activity on the IT side, we see activity on the software side, we see activity on the engineering side, consumer. So there is a lot of work that is happening on the US-India corridor," he said.
Balasubramanian also highlighted the strength of investment flows from the United States into India.
"Even if you look at the investments that is coming into the country from this corridor, it continues to be quite robust," he said.
While welcoming ongoing discussions around the trade pact, he cautioned that the final contours of the agreement are yet to emerge.
"We need to wait and see on the trade deal. At this point in time, frankly, it is anyone's guess in terms of what's happening on that," he said.
On the broader economic outlook, Balasubramanian said India's growth trajectory remains resilient despite global uncertainties.
"If you look at the resiliency of the country, despite the headwinds... we continue to grow at around about 7 per cent," he said.
He added that India's growth rate stands out among major economies globally.
"For a large economy of USD 4 trillion of GDP, a 7 per cent growth is a very material growth, and which is probably the fastest growth amongst most of the large economy in the world," Balasubramanian said.
"I think we should be pretty comfortable and happy in terms of the current tailwinds that we are seeing from a growth perspective," he added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great to hear from Citi India! As someone who works with US-India trade logistics, I can vouch that this corridor is booming. 7% growth in a $4 trillion economy is no joke. Let's hope the deal brings lower tariffs for both sides—it would make life easier for small businesses.
"Excited and waiting"—that's the mood in Mumbai's business circles too! 🇮🇳 The US is our biggest trade partner, and this deal could mean more jobs for our graduates. But I'm worried about the dairy sector—our farmers need protection. Hope the negotiators keep that in mind.
Finally some concrete optimism about the trade deal! The corridors Citi mentions—IT, engineering—are where Indian talent shines. But the CEO's caution is wise: "Anyone's guess" on the final terms. Let's not jump the gun. The devil is in the details, yaar.
As an American working in India, I've seen how much both economies gain from this relationship. The 7% growth stat is impressive, but India still has poverty and inequality. A trade deal should include provisions for skill development and fair wages. Hope it's not just big business that benefits.
"Vibrant trade corridor" sounds promising! But let's not forget the last round of talks that stalled. I'm cautiously optimistic. Our startups need access to US markets, and American companies want India's talent pool. Win-win if done right. Fingers crossed! 🤞
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