Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a series of high-level meetings with senior executives of leading US companies during his visit to New York, encouraging them to explore investment opportunities and expand their presence in India.

According to an official statement released on Wednesday, the discussions focused on strengthening India-US economic and commercial ties, with particular emphasis on financial services, manufacturing, energy, technology and Artificial Intelligence.

Goyal met Blackstone President and COO Jonathan Gray and Chairman of International Private Equity Prakash Melwani to discuss expanding investments and strategic partnerships across key Indian sectors. In his meeting with IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna, the minister explored opportunities to deepen collaboration in AI, cloud infrastructure and quantum computing.

Discussions with General Atlantic Chairman and CEO William E. Ford focused on expanding the firm’s business operations and investments in India. Goyal also met AIA Group Non-Executive Chairman Mark Tucker to explore growth opportunities in the country’s insurance and financial services sectors.

During meetings with Neuberger Berman Chairman and CEO George Walker and The Estée Lauder Companies President and CEO Stéphane de La Faverie, discussions centred on India’s growth potential, including opportunities for local manufacturing, product sourcing and expansion in the rapidly growing beauty and personal care market.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the engagements showcased India’s strong economic growth prospects and investment potential. The meetings also reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and the United States to strengthening bilateral trade, encouraging investment and deepening economic cooperation across strategic sectors.