WASHINGTON, June 30: In a strong endorsement of India’s technological capabilities, the United States has described India as an “indispensable” partner in the global race for technological leadership. Speaking at the IX USISPF Leadership Summit 2026, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jacob Helberg said India is the only country capable of rivaling China in the depth of its engineering workforce.
The remarks underscore the rapidly expanding technology partnership between Washington and New Delhi, with growing collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI), deep technology, and cross-border developer ecosystems.
Addressing policymakers and Fortune 500 technology executives, Helberg said India’s vast engineering talent is uniquely positioned to drive the next generation of global software innovation.
“India obviously is the only country on Earth that fundamentally rivals China with respect to the depth of its engineering workforce and talent pool,” Helberg said. “It has a true nascent technology ecosystem and is making some pretty incredible contributions at the application layer, which we think is absolutely essential for technology diffusion.”
Helberg said India’s large population, extensive engineering workforce, and rapidly growing economy make it an ideal market for developing advanced technologies and services.
“That is why we want to foster a developer ecosystem with India—a shared developer ecosystem—and we recognize that this truly forms the foundation of our multifaceted collaboration with them,” he said.
Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the summit in Washington, Helberg said India’s commitment to artificial intelligence has emerged as a central theme in ongoing bilateral discussions. He also referenced continuing high-level conversations involving leading U.S. AI companies, including Anthropic.
“So the big takeaway is India is totally committed to the future. It has one of the world’s deepest engineering workforces. And we are completely in lockstep when it comes to building an AI developer ecosystem that is positive-sum and complementary. And we’re very excited to work with our Indian counterparts on that,” he said.
While declining to provide specific details, Helberg indicated that discussions are continuing under a newly introduced U.S. administrative fast-track initiative.
“Those conversations are still unfolding. I’m sure you followed the news over the weekend that the Commerce Department recently rolled out a trusted partner program, and so we’re continuing that process,” he said.
Helberg recently met with Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan to discuss expanding technology cooperation and facilitating greater investment opportunities.
In a post on X, Helberg said, “Met with IT Secretary S. Krishnan to discuss strengthening technology cooperation and unlocking new opportunities for shared growth between the United States and India in the global AI economy, because American companies are ready to build, invest, and innovate in India.”
The growing diplomatic engagement builds on initiatives launched earlier this year during the AI Impact Summit, reinforcing a shared vision in which the United States and India view their respective technology sectors as complementary partners rather than competitors. (ANI)
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