Nisha Desai Biswal Appointed as the Deputy CEO of DFC

Indian-American businesswoman Nisha Desai Biswal has been appointed as the Deputy CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation.

The United States Senate has confirmed the appointment of Nisha Desai Biswal to serve as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).

The DFC addresses the paramount challenge in the current scenario globally by providing loans, loan guarantees, direct equity investments, and political risk insurance for private-sector-led development projects, feasibility studies, and technical assistance.

Prior to this role, Biswal served as the Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, in which she acted as a point person for the Obama administration on South Asia. She oversaw the US-India strategic partnership, including conditions like launching an annual US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue during her service.

With nearly 30+ years of experience in US foreign policy and international developmental programs within the Executive Branch, Congress, and the private sector, Biswal served as senior vice president for International Strategy and Global Initiatives at the US Chamber of Commerce. She monitored the US-India Business Council and the US-Bangladesh Business Council and served as the President of the US-India Business Council.

She has also served as an Assistant Administrator for Asia at the US Agency for International Development, directing and supervising USAID programs and operations across South, Central, and Southeast Asia. Biswal served in various roles at Capitol Hill during her initial years as the staff director on the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Appropriations and professional staff on the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives.

Graduating in internal relations and economics from the University of Virginia, the 55-year-old Indian-American businesswoman also served as the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid and a member of the board of the National Democratic Institute and the US Institute of Peace International Advisory Council.