Ambassador Garcetti: Indo-US Ties Span From Seabed to Stars
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Synopsis
On January 17, 2023, the U.S. and Indian governments inaugurated a new consulate site in Bengaluru. Outgoing Ambassador Eric Garcetti emphasized that the Indo-US relationship extends from the seabed to the stars, highlighting the significance of Bengaluru's innovation and economic contributions.
Key Takeaways
- Indo-US relations are extensive, covering various sectors.
- Bengaluru is a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
- The new consulate enhances diplomatic engagement.
- Karnataka hosts nearly 700 U.S. companies.
- Future collaborations in space are on the horizon.
Bengaluru, Jan 17 (NationPress) Following the dedication of a new U.S. consulate site in Bengaluru by the U.S. and Indian governments, outgoing Ambassador Eric Garcetti remarked that the Indo-US relations encompass everything from the seabed to the stars.
“Our relationship genuinely spans from the seabed to the stars, and nowhere is this more evident than here in Bengaluru. The state's innovation and entrepreneurship – ranging from semiconductors to space – rivals that of my home state of California's Silicon Valley. I am immensely proud to inaugurate our new consulate site and announce the growth of collaboration between the American populace and the residents of Karnataka,” Ambassador Garcetti stated during the dedication ceremony.
Earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti inaugurated the site of the U.S. consulate, which aims to become the fifth U.S. consulate in India.
“The consulate will build upon the more than thirty-year footprint of the U.S. government in Bengaluru by enhancing our diplomatic involvement in economic and political matters, facilitating public diplomacy, and strengthening people-to-people connections, in addition to boosting the existing U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service capabilities,” the official announcement from the U.S. Consulate states.
Initially, consular services will still be conducted at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai and other U.S. diplomatic locations in India.
Ambassador Garcetti and Minister Jaishankar, accompanied by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, reaffirmed their commitment to fulfilling an agreement 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 enhance the U.S. presence in Bengaluru will strengthen and deepen the enduring bonds between the U.S. and Karnataka, building upon the longstanding diplomatic engagement and strategic partnership in the state.
The region 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 employment opportunities in both the United States and India. It is also a hub of rapidly growing collaboration in space, highlighted by the upcoming launches of the jointly developed NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite and a U.S. mission to send NASA-trained Indian astronauts to the International Space Station.
Expressing optimism about the future of the bilateral relationship, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stated: "I firmly believe that it is now within our reach, within the realm of possibility, to fully realize the potential of the India-U.S. relationship... I foresee a promising future for India and the U.S., and I believe Bengaluru will play a significant role in that future.”
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar also shared his views during the event: "This represents not merely the opening of a diplomatic mission, but a potent symbol of the ties connecting the United States and India, especially with Karnataka, a state that has long been at the forefront of India's growth and innovation."
Bengaluru is recognized as the sister city of San Francisco, California, and Cleveland, Ohio, serving as a vital link to U.S. defense, technology, and aerospace sectors. The U.S. government initially set up an office in Bengaluru in 1993 with the establishment of its Commercial Service post.
The announcement further emphasized that Bengaluru, known as the "Silicon Valley of India," accommodates nearly 700 U.S. companies and startups. The U.S. Commercial Service assists American businesses in establishing and expanding their presence in the region.
“Over 50 participants from Karnataka joined the 243-member U.S. Commercial Service India delegation to the SelectUSA Summit, marking the largest delegation ever to attend SelectUSA.
Karnataka is a prominent recipient of U.S. government investments aimed at enhancing U.S.-India trade and technology cooperation, as well as supporting India’s economic growth,” the announcement noted.
Since 2023, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has proclaimed more than $130 million in loans and equity investment directed towards Bengaluru-based companies across sectors such as agriculture, energy, health, finance, and transportation, fostering commercial expansion, diversifying supply chains, and promoting women’s entrepreneurship, according to the statement.
“Nearly all major universities and colleges in Karnataka, both public and private, maintain ongoing partnerships (including faculty and student exchange initiatives, twinning programs, dual/joint degree programs, and research collaborations) with American institutions of higher education.
A 17-year sister city relationship between San Francisco and Bengaluru links the “Silicon Valleys” of both the U.S. and India, while the sister city connection with Cleveland celebrates half a century this year,” the official release concluded.
