India, Oct. 13 -- Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has just returned from a trade mission to India, a trip that drew a wave of online abuse amid a broader rise in anti-Indian sentiment in the US. In a wide-ranging interview with HT, Gianforte brushed off the backlash, saying the visit had made significant progress despite the noise. He pitched India on buying more of Montana's farm produce, while courting Indian technology and pharmaceutical companies to set up shop in his state.

As you know, India is one of the world's biggest and fastest growing markets. It's the fifth largest economy and projected to be the third largest by 2030. So this is an opportunity. Montana and India already trade with each other. India buys Montana pulse crops,...