After more than two decades of advocacy, a major milestone was reached in establishing an Indian consulate-general in Los Angeles. Indian officials signed a 10-year lease with NAI Capital Investment for over 20,000 square feet of office space in the iconic AON Center at 707 Wilshire Boulevard in downtown.
Amritt CEO role
- Gunjan Bagla, CEO of Amritt , was among the leaders of the recent push with help of many influential figures including Mayor Karen Bass. Anju Garg of Insight Examinations secured large numbers of paper signatures on a petition. Smita Bagla sparked a viral online effort that led to over 4,000 online signatures. Gunjan flew to Palo Alto California, Washington DC and New Delhi over a one year period; paper copies of support letters and a printout of the online petition with all signatories were fedexed to the Prime Minister of India, to the Minister of External Affairs and to India’s then Ambassador in Washington. Hundreds of others reached out to their own contacts.
- Bagla emphasized LA’s strategic importance: it handles nearly 45% of U.S. imports and hosts consulates from 18 of the 20 G20 nations — with India and Russia as the only exceptions.
Why It Matters
- LA currently has 63 foreign consulates, but India lacked a local diplomatic presence, limiting its role in trade and international affairs.
- The new consulate will serve as a vital resource for American businesses interested in India, offering guidance and support for trade, investment, and expansion.
Economic and Cultural Impact
- With LA set to host the 2028 Olympics — and cricket included as an Olympic sport — the city expects up to 1 million Indian tourists, who will benefit from a local consulate.
🤝 Key Players at the Signing
- Kulwant Singh (Consulate General of India) and Priyanka Tyagi (Vice Consul) attended the lease signing.
- Tina LaMonica of NAI Capital Investment helped secure the location, ensuring it matched the consulate’s prestige and mission.
This development marks a significant step toward deepening India’s diplomatic and economic footprint on the U.S. West Coast.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
