Bengaluru breathes US-India relationship: US envoy on opening of consulate in city

NEW DELHI: The inauguration of the US Consulate office in Bengaluru on Friday was hailed by US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, as a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

Speaking to reporters, Garcetti emphasized the city's importance in fostering US-India ties, stating, "It's a great day for Bengaluru. It's a great day for Karnataka. It's a great day for the United States and for India. Look, this is a town that lives and breathes the US-India relationship."

Although visa services will not be available in the first year, the ambassador assured that efforts will be made to introduce them as soon as possible.

Garcetti described the inauguration as a "new beginning" for US-India relations, highlighting the potential for collaboration in various sectors such as health, aerospace, women's empowerment, jobs, and finance.

Acknowledging the contributions of Indian workers and visitors to the United States, Garcetti stated, "America has benefited from Indian workers, H1B. We've benefited from Indian visitors. We have Indian Americans who are now running states, universities, Indian Americans, who are running, for the most important jobs, whether it's doctors in rural areas that we couldn't find Americans for, or some of our great small business owners."

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the significance of the consulate's opening for Bengaluru.

"I think this is such an important, you know, consulate for a city like Bengaluru, because I think the US-India, you know, partnership, the US-India trade corridor, everything is going to be a very, very important aspect of the future," she said, adding that the city's talent pool is sought after by the entire world, making the consulate's presence crucial.