India's vibrant Muslim community vital to U.S-India partnership: Richard Verma

U.S. Ambassador to India Richard R. Verma on Wednesday told India's leading Muslim entrepreneurs, scholars, and clerics that they were each "vital players in advancing our countries' shared values and vision."

Noting that "the future of the U.S.-India relationship depends on human capital," Ambassador Verma said at a town hall at the India Islamic Cultural Center (IICC), "your perspectives and contributions are the key asset for its growth."

The hour-long discussion with over 50 people representing the geographic, professional, and ideological diversity of India's vibrant Muslim communities highlighted the people-to-people role in strengthening U.S.-India relations.

Ambassador Verma outlined four broad areas of ongoing U.S.-India cooperation: clean energy and climate change; development, health, and science; economic and commercial; and defense and security.

IICC President Sirajuddin Qureshi extended the invitation to Ambassador Verma to speak at the center. During his visit, the Ambassador also met some of the young Muslim students who benefit from the center's vocational training programs and inaugurated the center's newly-renovated Board Room.