Three years after US President and billionaire Donald Trump arrived on his private jet for a deal-making tour to India, the country has become the only major developing country where his business fares well. After winning the elections, Trump dropped several international projects, promising not to engage in new foreign deals that could trigger conflicts of interest. However, his Indian deals appear to remain unaffected. While in office, Trump has been building a strong bond with Prime Minister Narendra Modi - as his company builds ties with some partners who have faced legal troubles.
In western India, a pair of shiny black Trump buildings with gold insignia tower over the city of Pune. In nearby Mumbai, a 75-story Trump skyscraper will be one of the tallest in the megacity. In a swanky suburb of Delhi, two Trump partners have big plans. And in Kolkata, a new Trump tower is under way.
Modi was one of the first to visit Trump after he took office and invited daughter Ivanka to lead a delegation to a business summit in November. All of this has raised fresh questions about whether Trump Organization's deals with politically-connected foreign tycoons could put his interests ahead of the nation's and entail special treatment by foreign authorities. India is a key US ally in Asia and its rivalry with both Pakistan and China fosters many areas where Trump and Modi need each other -nuclear weapons, anti-terrorism, Afghanistan and trade, among others. So far, Trump doesn't seem to have spared India in policies ranging from visas for technology workers to the Paris climate accord. Still, the risk that he might let his business interests outweigh national needs - or that India might cut him a break on taxes or permits in exchange for policy tweaks - remains a big concern for government ethics experts in the US. A spokesman for Modi did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Asked about potential conflicts in India, the Trump Organization said it's “very proud of the success we have achieved in that market with five active properties under various stages of development.” The White House referred questions to the Trump Organization. Trump's Indian partners Atul and Sagar Chordia celebrated the US victory by flying immediately to New York to congratulate the president elect, increasing congressional calls for Trump to divest his businesses. He opted instead to hold onto his assets and hand management to his two older sons. Whatever concerns have been raised in the US regarding the blending of business and policy, Trump's election seems only to have increased the value of his brand in India.
