The United States (US) is the world’s largest consumer economy. Its household spending is the highest in the world, accounting for nearly a third of global household consumption. On average, US households consume nearly three times as much as any other country in the world. This makes the US market one of the most lucrative globally to reach out to. 

More than just a market, the US is a major gateway to the world. The US is also home to some of the biggest global brands, including Apple, Coca-Cola, Google, General Electric, Nike, Walmart, and Walt Disney. In some industries, your company can gain credibility that is critical to becoming a global brand, by establishing presence in the US first.

Innovative Ecosystem 

The US is regularly ranked one of the most entrepreneurial economies in the world by the Global Entrepreneurship Index. There is also a wide range of funding sources – from banks and investment firms to venture capitalists and angel investors – as the US has one of the most developed financial markets.

As a recognized leader in research and development, the US registers more international patents than any other country. A robust intellectual property protection framework safeguards innovators, while leading universities and incubators across the US nurture future innovators and ideas.

Entrepreneurs can benefit from this well-developed and flourishing ecosystem of talent, funding and ideas in the US. If you are a startup, join the many startups that have set up home in the world’s top startup ecosystems of Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Silicon Valley.

Good Business Environment 

The US economy is recovering steadily from the 2008 recession. Economic growth in 2018 continues to be robust.

Consistently ranked among the best internationally for its overall competitiveness and ease of doing business, the US is also one of the most attractive destinations for foreign direct investment. It topped the A.T. Kearney FDI Confidence Index for the sixth consecutive year in 2018.

The US is an ideal place to do business for various reasons. These include an open US business culture that encourages free enterprise and competition, a liberal policy towards private enterprises, and a regulatory environment that is particularly conducive to starting and operating a business in the US.

USA is also known for its stable democracy with a transparent and predictable legal system and strong rule of law. All companies, regardless of national origin, compete on an even playing field in the US.

Rapidly expanding trade and commercial linkages between India and U.S. form an important component of the multi-faceted partnership between the two countries. Total bilateral trade (goods and services) between India and US increased at a CAGR of 11.5% from $20 billion in the year 2000 to $142 billion in the year 2018. In this period, the growth in bilateral trade was accelerated by services trade, which grew at a CAGR of 13.4%. Goods trade grew at a CAGR of 10.6%. During the year 2018, goods trade contributed to 61.6% and trade in services contributed to 38.4% of the total India-US bilateral trade of $142 billion.

Starting from a modest $14 billion in 2000, the bilateral trade in goods has increased to $87.5 billion in 2018 (CAGR of 10.6%), making U.S. our second largest trading partner. Of this, India exported $54.4 billion to US and imported $33.12 billion from US. Trade in goods during the year 2018 was $87.53 billion as compared to $74.33 billion during the year 2017, which is an increase of 17.8%. During the period January –February 2019, trade in goods grew by 15.5%to $14.87 billion from $ 12.88 billion during the corresponding period in 2018.

As per FDI statistics released by Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Government of India, the U.S. is the sixth largest source of foreign direct investment into India. The cumulative FDI inflows from the US during April 2000 to December 2018 amounted to $ 24.76 billion constituting 6% of the total FDI inflows into India. During the current fiscal, for the period April 2018 – December 2018, FDI from US stood at $ 2.34 billion. As per a report released in November 2017 by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) titled “Indian Roots, American Soil”, Indian investment in US amounts to $18 billion, based on a survey of 100 Indian companies across 50 states in US for this report.

US FDI into India as on year 2017 amounted to US$ 44.46 billion whereas Indian FDI into the US as on year 2017 amounted to US$ 13.12 billion.

Trade in Services: Bilateral trade in services has grown at a very fast pace since the year 2000, increasing from a mere $6 Billion in 2000 to $54.6 billion in the year 2018 (CAGR of 13.1%). Of this, India’s exports of services to the U.S. were valued at $28.8 billion and India’s imports of services from US were valued at $25.8 billion. Trade in Services during the year 2018 was $ 54.56 billion as compared to $51.9 billion during 2017, which is an increase of 5.2%.

Following aspects of the US economy make it highly lucrative for business:

Technology 

The US has the largest information technology market in the world. With a vibrant culture of technological innovation and entrepreneurship, it is home to many leading hardware, software, and tech service providers.

It is also the world leader in startup ecosystems, with Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle, and Silicon Valley consistently ranked in the world’s top ten. These ecosystems have deep resources: top universities, leading tech companies, innovative multi-national companies, and active venture capital firms. Major technology companies based in Silicon Valley include Apple, Cisco, Dropbox, Facebook, Google, Intel, Salesforce, and Twitter.

If you run a technology company, you can also work with US technology companies to help you scale regionally and globally. For example, you can co-create or integrate your products with US technology platforms to market and distribute globally, or utilise mentorship, accelerator programmes, and funding to grow more quickly.

Consumer

The US is the world’s largest consumer market, valued at US$ 13.4 trillion in the third quarter of 2017. Consumer confidence is at an all-time high in 15 years, as more people are employed and can now afford to spend more on consumer goods.

The typical US consumer is receptive to both domestic and imported brands, given the open and broad nature of the US market. This enables you to tap the rising consumer confidence and spending to introduce your brand to the US market.

Manufacturing 

The US is home to large industries across different manufacturing sectors, including aerospace, medical, and pharmaceutical.

If your company is in the aerospace or medical devices industry, consider venturing into the US market to tap its position as the global leader in these industries in terms of market size, influence and top companies.

Pearls, pharmaceutical products, machinery, mechanical appliances, nuclear reactors, mineral fuels, vehicles, textiles, apparel, fish & organic chemicals.

According to ITC Trade Map, India currently has an untapped export potential of US$ 25.9 billion to USA led by motor vehicles, shrimps & prawns, silver jewellery and organic chemicals.

Pearls, machinery, mechanical appliances, electrical machinery, organic chemicals, Optical, photographic, mineral fuels, plastics, edible fruits & nuts, pulp of wood.

Indian Embassy in US

Chancery Address: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008

Consular Wing Address: 2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008

For trade related queries

Mr. Harinder Mecheri

Email: com1.washington@mea.gov.in

Telephone: 202-939-9810 

For all other and general queries:

Mr. Anshul Sharma

Counsellor (Commerce)

Email: ccom.washington@mea.gov.in

Telephone: 202-939-9808

California Governor’s Office

T: (916) 322-0694 / (877) 345-4633

W: business.ca.gov

Economics and Statistics Administration (U.S. Department of Commerce)

Economics and Statistics Administration, Room 4848, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20230

T: (202) 482-6607

W: www.esa.doc.gov

E: ESAwebmaster@doc.gov

International Trade Administration

International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20230

T: 1-800-872-8723

W: www.trade.gov

United States Patent and Trademark Office (Department of Commerce)

T: 1 800 786 9149

W: www.uspto.gov

E: usptoinfo@uspto.gov

USA.gov (State Government Portal)

USA.gov, U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Citizen Services and Innovative Technologies, 1275 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20417, U.S.A.

T: 1-800-333-4636

W: www.usa.gov/Agencies/State-and-Territories.shtml