India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, during a visit to Chicago, identified three areas he described as attractive entry points for American businesses: a food processing industry in the midst of expansion, agricultural supply chains undergoing modernisation, and a broad domestic consumer base. He also advocated for closer bilateral ties between the two countries in the areas of startup development and innovation.
Goyal held a series of meetings in Chicago with business leaders, startup founders, and professional organisations, laying out the details of his engagements across those sessions.
Among his meetings was one with Juan Ricardo Luciano, who serves as both Chair of the Board and Chief Executive of Archer Daniels Midland. That discussion centred on avenues through which the company might deepen its footprint and capital commitments in India. Goyal noted that the country's expanding food processing industry, evolving agricultural supply chains, and large consumer market together present a strong foundation for lasting partnership and growth.
The Commerce Minister delivered the opening address at a US-India Business Council roundtable held in Chicago on the theme of startups, innovation, and pathways for scaling investment and growth. Roundtable exchanges focused on venture investment, pathways to commercialisation, and corporate ties, with discussions aimed at helping startups from both India and the United States expand into new markets.
Bilateral conversations on innovation ties between India and the United States also formed part of Goyal's agenda, alongside discussions aimed at fostering the growth of high-potential new enterprises. During those engagements, Goyal met with leadership and members drawn from the Chicago, Michigan, and Ohio chapters of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He expressed the view that chartered accountants could play a meaningful part in advancing the bilateral relationship — supporting businesses through cross-border tax matters, regulatory requirements, and financial governance, and helping position Indian enterprises to attract global investment.
A separate meeting brought the minister together with Paul Grewal, Chief Legal and Global Affairs Officer at Cognition, where the two discussed how the company's artificial intelligence tools might be put to broader use and how its footprint within India could be expanded.
Goyal also met with Aon chief executive Greg Case, with discussions covering the insurance firm's footprint across India and avenues through which that presence might be broadened. At that meeting, the minister outlined areas where India holds an established position — talent pipelines, technology-driven services, and an expanding business environment — while pointing to the room for stronger commercial ties between the two countries.
