Nisha Desai Biswal

Nisha Biswal (née Desai), (born 1968) is an American businesswoman and public official in the United States. Biswal is the deputy CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. She previously served as senior vice president for international strategy and global initiatives and oversees South Asia programs at the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to this, she served as the president of the US-India Business Council at the US Chamber of Commerce. Previously, she has also served as assistant secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in the United States Department of State under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017. Biswal was the first Indian-American to hold this position.

Biswal oversaw the U.S.–India strategic partnership during a period of increased cooperation, including the initiation of the annual U.S.–India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. In January 2017, she received the Samman Award from the President of India. She also played a key role in establishing the U.S.–Bangladesh Partnership Dialogue and the C5+1 Dialogue between the United States and the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Biswal also serves on the United States Institute of Peace International Advisory Council, on the Afghanistan Study Group and is on the board of directors for the Institute for Sustainable Communities, the Leadership Council for Women in National Security and is active in Democratic politics.