US Under Secretary Kimmitt leads ITA delegation to B'luru ahead of India AI Impact Summit
Bengaluru, Feb 18
United States Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade William Kimmitt led a delegation of officials from the International Trade Administration to Bengaluru this week, marking the first leg of a visit to India ahead of the Department of Commerce's participation in the 2026 India AI Impact Summit, according to an official statement from the US Consulate.
The statement said that during the visit to Bengaluru on February 17, Kimmitt and the delegation met representatives of several US and Indian technology companies and innovators to understand how artificial intelligence is being integrated into business operations and to explore opportunities for strengthening US-India technology partnerships.
The delegation visited organisations including Chevron Engine, Google DeepMind, South Park Commons and Biocon as part of its engagements with industry stakeholders.
"It is a privilege to visit the heart of tech innovation in Bengaluru at such a critical juncture for the US-India relationship," Kimmitt said.
He added that the emerging trade agreement between the United States and India would strengthen bilateral ties and promote adoption of advanced US technologies in India.
"The United States welcomes India's participation in the American AI Exports Program, and we look forward to working with trusted partners to power a new age of prosperity and security with American AI leadership," he said.
In addition to industry interactions, Kimmitt, along with Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, participated in a roundtable organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. The discussions focused on defence cooperation in emerging technologies, promotion of technology exports and strengthening industrial collaboration between the two countries.
The ITA delegation also includes Deputy Under Secretary Brandon Remington, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia Pamela Phan, and Chief of Staff Trevor Kellogg.
Following the Bengaluru visit, Kimmitt and the delegation are scheduled to participate in the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where they will outline the American AI Exports Program and explore further cooperation opportunities.
According to the US Department of Commerce, the American AI Exports Program aims to promote export of integrated artificial intelligence technology packages, including specialised computing hardware, data infrastructure, AI models, cybersecurity systems and sector-specific applications. The initiative is intended to support deployment of US AI technologies among trusted international partners and expand global technology cooperation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone working in tech policy, I hope this partnership is a two-way street. We have brilliant AI researchers here in India. The focus should be on collaboration, not just on India being a market for US exports. Let's build together.
Good to see the delegation visited Biocon too. AI in healthcare and biotech is where we can make a real impact for our people. Hope the summit leads to projects that address local challenges like affordable diagnostics.
"Trusted partners" is the key phrase. In today's world, technology and security are linked. A strong US-India axis in critical tech like AI is good for stability in our region. The defence cooperation angle is very important.
While partnerships are welcome, I hope our government ensures data sovereignty and that Indian startups get a fair deal. We must develop our own indigenous AI capabilities alongside importing tech. 🧠
Interesting to see the level of engagement. The US clearly sees India as a pivotal market and ally in the tech race. The 2026 summit seems like a major milestone to watch for.
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