Mumbai, Sept. 28 -- India and the United States discussed expanding investment in energy and digital infrastructure required to support artificial intelligence at a New York roundtable held on Tuesday alongside the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The meeting brought together more than 40 participants from industry, academia, investment, government and civil society.
The event was hosted by the Consulate General of India in New York in partnership with ReNew and the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF). Discussions covered data-centre investment, power-system readiness, cross-border capital and coordination of policy and technology frameworks between the two countries.
Participants examined ways to scale data-centre and AI infrastructure investment across the US-India corridor, with reliable electricity supply and grid readiness identified as key areas for cooperation. They also considered financing options for energy and digital infrastructure needed to meet demand associated with the expansion of AI. The meeting addressed the mobilisation of public, private and blended capital for cross-border projects, as well as regulatory alignment to facilitate bilateral activity.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi, USISPF President and CEO Mukesh Aghi, World Bank Executive Director Neelkanth Mishra, ReNew Chairman and CEO Sumant Sinha and ReNew co-founder Vaishali Nigam Sinha participated. A report titled Powering the AI Age: India's Next Energy Export Opportunity was launched during the event, focusing on energy and infrastructure requirements linked to digital expansion.
The roundtable took place during the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly, whose programme lists artificial intelligence, digital governance, science and technology as a dedicated priority. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing a Global South meeting, called for greater cooperation among developing countries amid geopolitical, economic and climate-related pressures, while stressing inclusion in decisions affecting those nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has backed greater international cooperation on frontier AI models, including an initiative led by Finland and Norway to explore an institution for standards and verification. The session's presidency has also advocated evidence-based and inclusive approaches to AI governance and investment to narrow the digital divide.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.