Nisha Desai Biswal confirmed as deputy CEO of DFC
Former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal speaking at the Indiaspora gala held at Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC, on January 3, 2017. Photo credit: The American Bazaar
The United States Senate confirmed Nisha Desai Biswal to serve as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation.
The DFC addresses the most critical challenges facing the developing world by providing loans, loan guarantees, direct equity investments, and political risk insurance for private-sector-led development projects, feasibility studies, and technical assistance.
From 2013 to 2017, Biswal served as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, a role in which she acted as a point person for the Obama administration on South Asia. In that job, she oversaw the US-India strategic partnership, including the launch of an annual US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, as noted by the White House.
With over 30 years of experience in US foreign policy and international development programs within the Executive Branch, Congress, and the private sector, Biswal most recently held the position of Senior Vice President for International Strategy and Global Initiatives at the US Chamber of Commerce, overseeing the US India Business Council and US Bangladesh Business Council. She has also served as the President of US-India Business Council.
Previously, she served as an Assistant Administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development, where she directed and supervised USAID programs and operations across South, Central, and Southeast Asia.
In the early years of her career, Biswal spent more than a decade on Capitol Hill in various roles, including as staff director on the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations and as professional staff on the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives.
Over the years, she has served as the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid, a member of the board of the National Democratic Institute, a member of the US Institute of Peace International Advisory Council, the United States Institute of Peace Afghanistan Study Group, and the Aspen Institute’s India-US Track 2 Dialogue on Climate and Energy.
Biswal graduated in international relations and economics from the University of Virginia. She is married to Subrat Biswal and the couple has two daughters, Safya Biswal and Kaya Biswal.
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