The Consulate General of India is setting a strong foundation in Los Angeles by leasing an entire floor in a prominent downtown skyscraper.
The consulate’s new office will be located at the AON Center, situated at 707 Wilshire Boulevard, a building that once held the title of the tallest in downtown Los Angeles.
This 10-year lease encompasses 20,507 square feet, which stands out amid the current high office vacancy rates in the area.
This new location marks the consulate’s second office in California, complementing the longstanding presence in San Francisco that has served the community since the 1950s.
The expansion indicates a growing cooperation between Los Angeles and India, especially as Southern California gears up to host significant global events like the 2028 Olympics and parts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gunjan Bagla, chief executive of Amritt, a consultancy specializing in U.S.-India relations, emphasized that Los Angeles is a vital U.S. city in the western hemisphere, making a local diplomatic presence essential.
With over half a million Indian Americans living in Southern California, Los Angeles has increasingly relied on Indian tourism and students seeking education in the U.S. to support its economy.
As cricket, a sport immensely popular in India, is set to be featured in the Olympics, Bagla predicts that tourism from India will surge.
California stands out as the only state with two Indian consulates; the Los Angeles facility will also cater to the needs of residents in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada.
Opting for a location in downtown Los Angeles provides the consulate with greater accessibility to its constituents as well as proximity to City Hall.
Notably, the State Bank of India maintains a branch in the same building, enhancing convenience for visitors.
Tina LaMonica, Executive Vice President at NAI Capital, represented the consulate during the lease transaction.
She articulated that AON Center’s prestigious office environment will place the consulate at the city’s core, thus rendering essential services more accessible to the Indian-American community across Southern California.
Originally opened in 1974, the AON Center underwent significant renovations after a fire incident in 1988.
While the building may have lost some of its former prestige, it remains a notable figure in the downtown skyline.
Bagla pointed out that the consulate’s prominent location will empower business leaders across various industries.
“American business leaders in entertainment, aerospace, electric vehicles, telecommunications, and biotech will now have direct access to Indian diplomats for trade, investment, and cultural connections,” he stated.
The new office space is expected to be ready for occupancy by November.
The Indian consulate will join a cluster of other foreign missions in downtown Los Angeles, including the Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia.
image source from：latimes
