Private sector indispensable to India-US AI, critical minerals push: Official

A senior Indian official said the private sector is essential to convert India-U.S. collaboration in strategic technologies into tangible outcomes. Speaking at a roundtable titled “Securing the Foundations of AI Together: US-India Cooperation from Minerals to Microchips,” Additional Secretary in India’s Ministry of External Affairs K Nagaraj Naidu said the two countries are moving “from principles to projects.” He pointed to initiatives spanning AI, quantum technologies, critical minerals, advanced energy and trusted supply chains, and argued that companies will be “indispensable” for real-world delivery. The event was organized by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) with the Embassy of India and Silverado Policy Accelerator. India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan highlighted efforts to expand electronics manufacturing and make semiconductor fabrication a reality. U.S.-India industry themes were echoed by Ambassador Vinay Kwatra and USISPF CEO Mukesh Aghi.