Washington: India is emerging as the new destination forAmerican business after China with several states planning to send trade missionsto take advantage of its 'fast-growing market'.

Governors from Virginia and Iowahave been there, and Minnesota, California and Utahare lining up gubernatorial visits for this year, according to Michael Taylorof the US-India Business Alliance that helped organise the earlier missions.

"There is sort of a stampede thing. India is verymuch on everyone's radar scope now," said Taylor, the alliance's executivevice president, who has been in contact with at least a dozen states aboutpossible trips.

"It's just a question of when they decide to go and howthey decide to go. I think they feel a necessity to do it. The China missionwas something you had to tick off. India has now become that," hesaid.

Minnesota's Republicangovernor Tim Pawlenty is planning to lead a 30-member trade mission to India Oct 20-27 with stops in New Delhi, Bangaloreand Mumbai.

"We view this as a tremendous opportunity to betteracquaint Minnesota with India and better acquaint India with Minnesota,"said Pawlenty announcing the trip to a country that now makes up a tinyfraction of Minnesota's roughly $14 billion in annual manufactured exports.

The agenda will include market and industry presentations,networking events, business roundtable discussions, customised one-on-onebusiness matchmaking meetings, and other similar events.

In a message to Minnesotabusiness leaders about the trade mission to the fast-growing market of India, Pawlenty said, "I invite you to takea closer look at business opportunities in India, and I encourage you toconsider applying to join the delegation."