Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, accompanied by First Lady Susan Gianforte and a delegation from the state of Montana, will visit Sri Lanka tomorrow (09) to expand opportunities for American agricultural exports and deepen security cooperation through the Montana National Guard’s State Partnership Program, the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka said in a statement.
Located in the northwestern United States, Montana is known for its wide-open landscapes, rich agricultural lands, and Rocky Mountain peaks. The U.S. Embassy said Montana is the leading U.S. producer of pulses such as chickpeas, lentils, and dry peas.
The delegation plans to engage with Sri Lankan pulse importers and traders to explore new markets for Montana-grown products, expand opportunities for American farmers, and strengthen commercial ties with Sri Lankan businesses, according to the U.S. Embassy Sri Lanka.
“From Montana’s farms to Sri Lanka’s Indian Ocean shores, this partnership connects economic opportunity with shared security,” U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Eric Meyer said, according to the statement. “We look forward to welcoming Governor Gianforte, First Lady Susan Gianforte, and the Montana delegation as they open doors for American farmers and deepen cooperation that benefits both our countries.”
Brigadier General Trenton Gibson, Montana’s Adjutant General and Commander of the Montana National Guard, will accompany the Governor’s delegation to advance defense cooperation through the State Partnership Program, which has linked Montana and Sri Lanka since 2021, the U.S. Embassy said.
In 2025, the Montana National Guard and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize and expand cooperation in disaster response, maritime domain awareness, and professional military education, according to the statement.
The U.S. Embassy said this partnership strengthens disaster readiness, maritime security, and the professional skills of military personnel while building lasting ties between Montana and Sri Lanka. The Governor’s visit will deepen that cooperation and open new opportunities for agricultural trade.
Starting his first business when he was in high school, Governor Greg Gianforte has spent his career creating jobs, the U.S. Embassy said in the statement. In 1997, Greg and Susan Gianforte founded RightNow Technologies from their Bozeman home and grew it into the town’s largest commercial employer, creating over 500 high-paying Montana jobs.
After 34 years in the private sector, Greg Gianforte was elected Montana’s 25th governor in November 2020, earning more votes than any candidate for governor in Montana history and with the largest margin of victory for a first-term governor since 1920, according to the U.S. Embassy.
Reelected in November 2024, Governor Gianforte is the first Republican to take office for a second term since 1996, the statement said.
According to the U.S. Embassy’s statement, Governor Gianforte’s experience as a businessman and entrepreneur guides his focus on expanding opportunities for Montanans, creating good-paying jobs, and protecting the Montana way of life.
The statement said Governor Gianforte has delivered historic tax cuts, made Montana debt-free, provided record funding for education, raised teacher pay, boosted funding for law enforcement, and increased public access to more than 100,000 acres of public lands.
Under Governor Gianforte’s leadership, more Montanans are working than ever before, unemployment is at record lows, and Montana has set new records in job and business creation, the U.S. Embassy said.
