Nisha Biswal is a Senior Advisor at The Asia Group in Washington D.C. and a leading voice on economic and geo-political trends in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific. She brings over 30 years of experience in U.S. foreign policy, international trade and economic development across the Executive Branch, in Congress and the private sector. With her deep networks and policy expertise, Nisha is well-positioned to support clients as they navigate trade, technology, regulatory and political dynamics in key markets across the Indo-Pacific, particularly in India and broader South Asia. At a time of increasing geopolitical volatility, Nisha can provide companies with the insights and analysis they need to inform corporate strategy and achieve tangible commercial outcomes. an.
Most recently, Nisha served as Deputy CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, overseeing operations, management and policy coordination, and helping DFC become the largest bilateral development finance entity in the world. Prior to DFC, Nisha was Senior Vice President for International Strategy and Global Initiatives at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce from 2017-2023, where she led the U.S.-India Business Council and the U.S.- Bangladesh Business Council. In these roles, Nisha worked extensively with American companies from a wide range of sectors, including energy, technology, aerospace, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, to advance commercial aims in South Asia.
Her prior U.S. government experience includes serving as Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the Department of State from 2013 to 2017. During her tenure, she oversaw the U.S.-India strategic partnership during a period of unprecedented growth, including the launch of an annual U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. She also initiated the C5+1 Dialogue with Central Asia and the U.S.-Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue. Previously, Nisha held senior roles at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)and on Capitol Hill, which included positions on the Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees in the House of Representatives.
Nisha currently serves on the board of Excelerate Energy, a publicly traded U.S. energy company providing integrated LNG solutions to meet the world’s energy needs. Prior Board service includes the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid, the National Democratic Institute and the U.S. Institute of Peace International Advisory Council. She served on USIP’s Afghanistan Study Group, the Congressional–Executive Commission on China, and the Aspen Institute’s India-US Track 2 Dialogue on Climate and Energy. Nisha is a proud graduate of the University of Virginia where she studied international relations and economics.