US Consul-General keen to strengthen economic ties with Gujarat

In a meeting with senior officials from the Government of Gujarat, the US Consul-General (Mumbai), Paul Folmsbee expressed his firm desire to develop even greater economic ties between the United States and Gujarat.

Folmsbee, accompanied by the Vice-Consul for Political Affairs, Prashanth Rajan, met with the AK Joti, chief secretary, Gujarat government; M Sahu, principal secretary of Industries and Mines Department; BB Swain, Industries Commissioner; and other officers of Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb). As part of a two-day visit to Gujarat the Consul-General received a briefing about what makes Gujarat India's most preferred investment destination, and about the forthcoming Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit in January next year.

The Consul-General enquired into the part Gujarat is playing in making the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) a success and about the State's flourishing enterprise culture.

"I am impressed by the state government's ambition to develop all six economic nodes on the DMIC in tandem, rather than in a piecemeal fashion as originally sought by the Union Government," he said.

Turning to the Vibrant Gujarat 2011 Summit, he promised his office would do all it can to promote interconnection between Gujarati and American SMEs in particular: "One advantage you have are the number of Gujarati-Americans – those links are key," he added.

Meanwhile, Joti said, "The state of Gujarat is very keen to deepen and widen the avenues of collaboration with the United States. We see the knowledge industries, infrastructure, IT, biotechnology, nano technology and processed food as sectors with particular potential for US investment.”