The proposed US Consulate in Hyderabad will start operations in 2008, according to Henrietta H Fore, the US under secretary of state for management. | |
| Fore, who met chief minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday, said the state government was very supportive and helpful in providing a temporary facility to start the Consulate's operations. |
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| Initially, the Consulate would function from Paigah Plaza, the present headquarters of Hyderabad Urban Development Authority. |
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| Stating that customer service was very important, she pointed out that since September 2006, the waiting time for Visa appointments in India were reduced from six months to six days. |
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| "Every available resource in the embassy was utilised to achieve this", she said. |
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| As the under secretary for management, Fore leads various bureaus including that of consular affairs and overseas buildings operations. |
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| American Chamber of Commerce in India chairman, Bipin Chandra, said that Hyderabad was catching up very quickly and has more to offer than information technology. |
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| Besides pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, the city has good potential for medical tourism too, he added. |
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