Nomination of new US Ambassador to India hailed

The nomination of Kenneth Juster by US President Donald Trump as the country's new Ambassador to India has been welcomed by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF).

"Ken is an inspired choice. He has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience in the relations between our two countries," USISPF Chairman John Chambers, who is also the Executive Chairman of Cisco, said in a statement on Tuesday.

"For example, he played a major role in developing the US-India- civil nuclear agreement. He also had the vision to put in place the High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG), which was the need of the hour back then," Chambers said.

"We look forward to working with him and his team to tap into the immense strategic partnership opportunities between the US and India."

USISPF is a non-profit organisation focused on deepening business relations between the US and India, and enhancing the strategic relationship between the two countries.

Juster will succeed Richard Verma, who departed from India after Trump was sworn in as the US President in January this year.

Juster has served as the Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs under Trump and was also the Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security under former President George W. Bush.

USISPF President Mukesh Aghi has said that Juster's nomination "sends the right message that the United States values this partnership" with India.

"Having served President Trump and worked closely with members of his White House team, Ken will have the ability to work at the highest levels of both the governments," Aghi said.

"He is a well-known face to US business as well as the Indian diaspora. We have no doubt that his vast experience on bilateral trade and strategic cooperation will help boost US-India relations tremendously."

--IANS

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