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Houston City Hall Hosts IACCGH’s 2026 Inaugural Reception 

By Somdatta Basu

Feb 3, Houston (TX) -The IACCGH’s 2026 inaugural reception unfolded at Houston City Hall as a tightly knit gathering of business leaders, civic partners, and community organizations – an evening shaped as much by ceremony as by a clear economic message: Houston intends to play a leading role in the next chapter of U.S.–India engagement.

Opening the program, Jagdip Ahluwalia, IACCGH’s Founding Secretary and Executive Director, positioned the Chamber’s work in explicitly pro-growth terms. “Any step that strengthens dialogue and the two-way trade benefits jobs and growth on both sides,” he said, underscoring the Chamber’s posture as “proudly nonpartisan and pro-business,” focused on “building bridges and advancing opportunity.”

Ahluwalia marked the Chamber’s longevity, founded in 1999 and now celebrating its 26th anniversary – and thanked the 2025 executive committee and board for their service under outgoing President Malisha Patel. He also explained the leadership transition for the year ahead. Beginning February 1, past president Rajiv Bhavsar will return to serve as president and complete the remainder of the term through December 31, 2026.

The Chamber’s broader coalition was visible throughout the evening, with representatives from multiple community and business organizations recognized during the program. Ahluwalia also acknowledged board leadership present in the room and welcomed a new board member, Sonal Malhotra.

Mayor John Whitmire, speaking at the event, said he would not miss the Chamber’s annual City Hall tradition. “This is your City Hall,” he told the audience. “You’re always welcome – and you make such a contribution to Houston’s greatness.” He pointed to the diversity of Chambers and organizations present and framed it as evidence of a civic strength he believes sets Houston apart. “If you look around the United States this evening, most major cities are having some turmoil,” he said. “Not in Houston, because in Houston, we’re united.”

Woven into the Mayor’s remarks was a direct assurance to the Indian American community and to the broader business community that City Hall sees them as partners in Houston’s progress. On public safety, he said, “We’re a phone call away. You have nothing but goodwill coming from City Hall,” adding that he was there to reaffirm the partnership “not only here today at city hall but across Houston.” He also encouraged local Chambers to use City Hall’s legacy space for continued convening.

IACCGH 2025 President, Malisha Patel added, “As I prepare to complete my term as president of the IACCGH, I am filled with gratitude for this community,” she said. Patel recounted a year of programming that included the Chamber’s small business series, panels, NowGen events, Open Forum engagements, and joint initiatives with partner organizations. “We have strengthened connections and created space for dialogue, learning and opportunity,” she said, crediting the Chamber’s impact to “collaboration, purpose, and a shared commitment to supporting our members.”

Calling her connection to IACCGH “personal,” Patel spoke about the value of community in helping people navigate opportunity and growth, and she thanked Ahluwalia, the board, partners, and her family for support throughout the year. “Most of all, I’m thankful for a community that believes in working together,” she said, “because when we do, we build something far greater than any one of us can do alone.”

Consul General of India in Houston D.C. Manjunath followed with remarks that linked the City Hall setting to the strength of the relationship the Chamber has worked to advance for more than two decades. He thanked Mayor Whitmire for continuing the tradition of hosting the inaugural reception at City Hall and for issuing a proclamation recognizing India’s 77th Republic Day. He also praised Patel’s year of leadership and congratulated Bhavsar on returning as President—adding that it was “not a role he really is new to.”

Looking ahead, the Consul General said he expects the Chamber’s leadership to continue driving initiatives that support trade, entrepreneurs, and business ties. “The Consulate is very proud to partner with the Chamber in all its efforts,” he said, including joint events that advance trade and economic ties between India and the United States. He also acknowledged the Chamber’s founding leaders, noting that the organization’s continuity has been sustained by early volunteers and by Ahluwalia’s ongoing role as a central force in the Chamber’s growth.

Closing remarks from Bhavsar were brief and appreciative – thanking the Mayor, the Consul General, elected officials and community leaders, and the partnering Chambers whose presence reflected Houston’s collaborative spirit. He also singled out sponsors and supporters as essential to the Chamber’s work, telling attendees that their investment is ultimately “an investment in Houston business, Houston community, families and the future.”

As the formal program gave way to photographs and networking, the reception returned to the Chamber’s core purpose: convening the region’s business and civic ecosystem in a way that is outward-facing, inclusive, and practical. The evening’s tone- civic, diplomatic, and pro-business, matched the message delivered from the start: Houston is ready, and the Indo-American Chamber intends to help carry the work forward.

Pic Credit: Bijay Dixit (photographer)