USA05 October, 20262 min read
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte Leads Trade Mission to India and Sri Lanka
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Gianforte leads 30+ Montanans to India and Sri Lanka to expand trade and education. Delegation highlights Montana strengths in quantum technology, photonics, bioscience, and agricultural tech.
Gianforte heads to Delhi
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte led a delegation of more than 30 people to India and Sri Lanka to explore business opportunities, expand educational partnerships, and strengthen research collaboration. Gianforte told NDTV that “Montana in particular, we have a large delegation here, over 35 people representing a broad range of industries.” Montana’s governor’s office said Gianforte kicked off Montana’s first trade mission to India in New Delhi, meeting with Indian business representatives to highlight Montana’s strengths in quantum technology, photonics, bioscience, and agricultural technology.
“Montana in particular, we have a large delegation here, over 35 people representing a broad range of industries.”
Gianforte said, “Montana is home to cutting-edge research and advanced manufacturing capabilities ready to meet global demand,” during meetings in Delhi. More than 30 people joined Gianforte for the India delegation, including state officials, technology and manufacturing leaders, and agricultural producers.
Trade, lentils, and reciprocity
Gianforte discussed India-US trade and said the US is India’s largest foreign market, while he argued for reciprocal relationships. Gianforte told NDTV that “President Trump and Ambassador Gore have been working very closely to get it over the finish line because businesses both in India and the US need certainty.” Gianforte called for equal market access as India-US trade grows, and he argued for reciprocal access in the other direction as well.
Gianforte told WION, “We need reciprocal relationships here to make sure that the appropriate business is done in the other direction as well.” The mission runs from October 5 to October 9 and puts Montana’s pulse-crop exports to India in focus, including chickpeas and lentils.
What Montana says is at stake
The mission included meetings with the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) and highlighted opportunities for collaboration in bioscience and biotechnology, optics and photonics, quantum technology, critical minerals, and higher education.
“This is not a one-and-done trip. We’re hoping to deepen existing relationships and establish new ones.”
The governor’s office said Montana offers an advanced biotech ecosystem powered by more than $250 million in annual university research funding and investments from the National Institute of Health.
The mission highlighted Montana’s newly expanded Right to Try law, which the legislature passed and the governor signed into law in 2025.
Gianforte told WION that “This is not a one-and-done trip. We’re hoping to deepen existing relationships and establish new ones.”
India purchased more than $14 million worth of Montana peas, lentils and chickpeas in 2025, after purchasing more than $64 million in 2024, and it said the trip aims to open markets for Montana businesses and agricultural producers.