BENGALURU — After
the U.S. and Indian governments on Friday dedicated a new U.S. consulate site
in Bengaluru, the outgoing Ambassador Eric Garcetti said that the Indo-US
relations extend from seabed to stars.
“Our relationship truly extends from the seabed to the
stars, and nowhere is that truer than here in Bengaluru. The innovation and
entrepreneurship of this state – from semiconductors to space – is matched only
by Silicon Valley in my home state of California. I’m so proud to dedicate our
new consulate site and announce the expansion of the collaboration between the
American people and the citizens of Karnataka,” said Ambassador Garcetti while
speaking at the dedication ceremony.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S.
Ambassador Eric Garcetti dedicated the site of the U.S. consulate, which is
intended to become the fifth U.S. consulate in India.
“The consulate will expand on the more than thirty-year
presence of the U.S. government in Bengaluru by increasing our diplomatic
engagement on economic and political issues, conducting public diplomacy and
people-to-people engagements, and augmenting existing U.S. and Foreign
Commercial Service capabilities,” reads the official release from the U.S.
Consulate.
Initially, consular services will continue to be performed
at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai and other U.S. diplomatic posts in India.
Ambassador Garcetti and Minister Jaishankar, joined by
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, announced their efforts to fulfil a
commitment made by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during
the Prime Minister’s State Visit to Washington, DC, in June 2023.
The initiative to expand the U.S. presence in Bengaluru will
broaden and deepen the long-standing ties between the U.S. and the state of
Karnataka and build upon long-standing diplomatic engagement and strategic
partnership in Karnataka.
The state is home to nearly 700 U.S. companies and tens of
thousands of U.S. citizens who live, visit, study, and work in Karnataka -
creating jobs in both the United States and India. It is also the centre of
rapidly expanding collaboration in space, highlighted by the planned launches
this year of the jointly developed NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite
and of a U.S. mission to bring NASA-trained Indian astronauts to the
International Space Station.
Expressing optimism about the future of the bilateral relationship,
Minister for External Affairs, S. Jaishankar stated: "I do believe today
it is within our grasp, within the realm of possibility that we realise more
fully the potential of India -U.S. relationship... I see a great future for
India and the U.S., and I think, in that future, obviously Bengaluru will also
have a salient part.”
While speaking at the event, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister
Shivakumar shared his perspective saying: "This is not just an opening of
the diplomatic mission, but a powerful symbol of the ties between the United
States and India, particularly with Karnataka, a state that has been long at
the heart of India's growth and innovation."
Bengaluru is the sister city of San Francisco, California,
and Cleveland, Ohio, and a key link with U.S. defence, technology, and
aerospace companies. The U.S. government first established an office in
Bengaluru in 1993 with the opening of its Commercial Service post in the city,
stated the release.
It further stated, that Bengaluru, the "Silicon Valley
of India," hosts nearly 700 U.S. companies and startups. The U.S.
Commercial Service supports American businesses in establishing and expanding
their presence in the region.
“More than 50 participants from Karnataka joined the
243-strong U.S. Commercial Service India delegation to the SelectUSA Summit,
officially the largest delegation ever to visit SelectUSA.
Karnataka is a leading recipient of U.S. government
investments to deepen U.S.-India trade and technology cooperation, and to support
India’s economic growth,” the release stated.
Since 2023, the U.S. International Development Finance
Corporation (DFC) announced more than $130 million in loans and equity
investment to Bengaluru-based companies across the agricultural, energy,
health, finance, and transportation sectors, promoting commercial expansion,
diversifying supply chains, and promoting women’s entrepreneurship, the
statement said.
“Nearly all leading universities and colleges in Karnataka,
both public and private, host ongoing partnerships (including faculty and
student exchange programs, twinning programmes, dual/joint degree programs, and
research partnerships) with American institutions of higher learning.
A 17-year-old sister city relationship between San Francisco
and Bengaluru links the “Silicon Valleys” of both the United States and India,
while the sister city relationship with Cleveland marks half a century this
year,” the official release stated.
