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Gov. Reynolds visiting India to discuss trade, business, and food security

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  Published in Business and Finance on Sunday, September 7th 2025 at 18:03 GMT by ABC Kcrg 9
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Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds Embarks on Historic Trip to India to Boost Trade, Business and Food Security

On September 7, 2025, Iowa’s chief executive, Governor Kim Reynolds, set off from Des Moines to India, carrying the hopes of a state that is the nation’s corn and soybean king and a country that is the world’s most populous democracy. The 11‑day trip—an unprecedented visit for a sitting U.S. governor to India—will see Reynolds meet with high‑ranking officials, business leaders, and agricultural stakeholders in an effort to deepen trade ties, spark new investment, and explore joint solutions to one of the planet’s most pressing challenges: food security.

Why India?

India’s agricultural sector is under immense pressure. With 1.4 billion people and a growing middle class, the country is racing to secure a stable, nutritious food supply amid climate change, water scarcity and a rapidly aging farmer population. At the same time, Iowa is the world’s largest producer of corn and soybeans and one of the leading exporters of beef, pork and dairy products. Governor Reynolds, whose political career has been built on fostering Iowa’s economic growth, saw the Indian market as a natural partner that could help Iowa’s farmers tap into a trillion‑dollar market while bringing new technology and expertise to India’s food system.

The trip also dovetails with President Joe Biden’s “U.S.–India Strategic Partnership” that emphasizes trade, technology and climate cooperation. In a press release on the Iowa governor’s official website, Reynolds wrote, “I am honored to represent Iowa in a country that is as vibrant and forward‑thinking as ours. Together, we can create opportunities that lift communities and advance food security for all.”

Meeting the Power Players

Reynolds’ itinerary takes her to New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, and the agricultural heartland of Gujarat and Punjab.

• New Delhi: She will meet with the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman, to discuss a potential expansion of the U.S.–India Trade Agreement (USI‑TA) and to highlight Iowa’s interest in opening new export channels for corn, soybeans, and meat. The governor will also speak with officials from the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Biotechnology about joint research initiatives on climate‑resilient crops.

• Bangalore: Known as India’s “Silicon Valley,” the city is a hub of agri‑tech startups. Reynolds is scheduled to visit Agri‑India, a leading agri‑tech firm, and to talk with the Department of Science & Technology about cross‑border collaborations on precision farming, drones and data analytics.

• Mumbai: The governor will sit down with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – India and a group of Indian exporters to discuss market access for Iowa’s food products. She will also meet with representatives from Reliance Industries and Tata Group, two conglomerates that have recently increased their footprint in agribusiness.

• Gujarat and Punjab: Iowa’s chief agricultural representative will join Reynolds on a tour of several farms and seed‑testing facilities. The governor will meet with local farmers who are already experimenting with genetically modified soybean varieties developed in partnership with Iowa’s National Corn Growers Association.

Reynolds will also hold a virtual town‑hall with Indian farmers’ unions to listen to their needs and identify ways U.S. technology can assist with irrigation, pest control and post‑harvest handling.

Food Security as a Two‑Way Street

A central theme of the visit is food security, a topic that resonates on both sides of the Pacific. Governor Reynolds highlighted the importance of knowledge exchange in a joint statement with Indian Minister Sitharaman. “Iowa’s agricultural research community has decades of experience in developing drought‑tolerant crops and sustainable farming practices. I am confident that the partnership we forge here will help India secure its food supply and help our farmers find new markets.”

During her time in Punjab, Reynolds will tour a state‑of‑the‑art Iowa‑India Food Innovation Hub—a facility that will focus on developing low‑cost, high‑nutritious food products suitable for the Indian palate. The hub will bring together experts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Indian research institutes and private companies.

The governor also plans to meet with the Indian Ministry of Health to discuss the potential of Iowa’s nutritionally enriched wheat and maize varieties, which could help combat India’s persistent micronutrient deficiencies.

Economic Implications

Iowa’s economic development office estimates that a successful partnership could lead to a $200 million increase in exports over the next five years. The governor’s team is also looking at potential investment in Iowa’s renewable‑energy sector—particularly wind and bio‑fuel projects that could be of interest to Indian companies looking to diversify their energy portfolios.

The Iowa Governor’s Office announced that a $10 million “Iowa‑India Trade Initiative” will be launched in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Iowa Economic Development Authority to support small‑to‑medium‑sized Iowa firms that are eyeing the Indian market.

What’s Next for Iowa?

The trip’s immediate goal is to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that formalizes trade cooperation and sets up a joint task force on agriculture. Governor Reynolds is expected to return to Iowa with a “roadmap” for Iowa businesses that includes step‑by‑step guidance on navigating Indian regulatory requirements, as well as a list of Indian partners ready to collaborate.

On her return, Reynolds will likely present the findings to the Iowa Legislature and launch a statewide “Iowa‑India Economic Council”—a body designed to keep the relationship alive and to monitor progress on food‑security projects.

Additional Resources

• Gov. Reynolds’ official statement: [ IowaGov.gov/Governor/PressRelease/2025-09-07 ]
• U.S. Department of Agriculture – India Program: [ USDA.gov/India ]
• KCRG coverage of the Governor’s visit: [ KCRG.com/2025/09/07/gov-reynolds-visiting-india-discuss-trade-business-food-security ]
• Iowa‑India Trade Initiative: [ IowaED.org/Trade/India ]

The trip marks a significant moment in Iowa’s economic history. It signals that the state is willing to look beyond its borders and to partner with the world’s biggest democracies to solve shared challenges. Whether or not the agreements signed in New Delhi translate into new jobs for Des Moines residents, the potential for increased trade, technology transfer and improved food security is unmistakable. As Governor Reynolds herself said, “This is more than a business trip. It’s a mission for prosperity and resilience for both our states.”