MUMBAI (Oct. 4, 2019) – Governor Eric J. Holcomb will conclude his second economic development trip to India this week by attending the National Basketball Association's (NBA) first game hosted in the country. While in Mumbai, Gov. Holcomb and the Indiana delegation joined NBA representatives for a reception celebrating the inaugural games and cheered on the Indiana Pacers against the Sacramento Kings. Tomorrow, Gov. Holcomb will help break ground on the NBA's newest Legacy Project and the delegation will meet with business and academic stakeholders ahead of the final preseason game between the two teams.

“Cheering on the Pacers at the first-ever NBA game in India was the perfect capstone to an extremely productive trip to China and India,” Gov. Holcomb said. “I wake up each day thinking of ways I can take Indiana to the world and bring the world to Indiana. These two weeks abroad did so much to strengthen relationships and build new partnerships. This will lead to such good things back home in Indiana.”

On Thursday night, Gov. Holcomb, Indiana Secretary of Commerce Jim Schellinger and the delegation attended the opening reception for the NBA India Games, which convened team officials and players, NBA executives, and business and government leaders from around the world to celebrate the inaugural games in India.

At the reception, Gov. Holcomb congratulated leadership from Pacers Sports & Entertainment, including Herb Simon, chairman, owner and NBA governor; Kevin Pritchard, president of basketball operations; and Rick Fuson, president and chief operating officer, on this historic game. The governor also wished good luck to Indiana Pacers Head Coach Nate McMillan and the rest of the team, including starting center Myles Turner.

On Friday, the Indiana delegation traveled to the NSCI Dome in Mumbai for the game, where Gov. Holcomb was recognized at center court prior to tipoff and introduced as the Indiana Pacers' honorary captain.

The delegation watched the game alongside a large crowd, which included 3,000 children from throughout Mumbai, as the Indiana Pacers overcame a 13-point deficit at halftime to defeat the Sacramento Kings 132-131 in overtime.

The NBA has been actively involved in the development and growth of basketball in India since 2011, when the organization launched one of its 12 international offices in Mumbai. Today, there are 30 NBA Basketball Schools in six cities across India providing basketball development programs to boys and girls ages 6-18. Click here for more information about the NBA's inaugural games and basketball outreach efforts in India.

Tomorrow, Gov. Holcomb will join league and team executives and former NBA players to unveil the NBA's newest Legacy Project, which will support five underserved municipal schools in Mumbai, including Sitaram Mill Compound Marathi BMC School, where the governor will help break ground on a new basketball court.

In the afternoon, the delegation will join India business leaders and Indiana University representatives and alumni for a networking event ahead of the NBA's final preseason game in India. In fall 2019, approximately 1,725 students with Indian citizenship were enrolled in Indiana University, and the university hosts one of its five Global Gateway offices in New Delhi. Tomorrow evening, the Indiana delegation will attend the second Pacers vs. Kings preseason game in Mumbai prior to departing for Indiana.

This concludes Gov. Holcomb’s second economic development trip to India, which supports eight business establishments in Indiana that employ approximately 1,000 Hoosiers. The delegation will return to Indiana on Sunday, Oct. 6, following visits to Mumbai, New Delhi, Shanghai, Beijing and China's Zhejiang Province.

More information on Indiana’s ties to China and India is available here.

About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, helping businesses launch, grow and locate in the state. Governed by a 15-member board chaired by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.

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Media Contact:
Erin Sweitzer (IEDC) – 317.296.2556 or [email protected]