'PM Modi's Silicon Valley trip will showcase Indian contributions'

A bipartisan group of American lawmakers hoped that Modi's second US visit will help attract Indian investments

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to the Silicon Valley would bring in new dimension to the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, a bipartisan group of American lawmakers has said while hoping that his second US visit will help attract Indian investments.

On the eve of Modi's arrival in New York, where during over the next three days he would interact with the leaders of the top American companies from financial and media sector, as many as 33 eminent Congressman wrote a joint letter to the Prime Minister welcoming him to the land of opportunities.

"It was clear that your last trip to the United States provided the momentum needed to refocus the US-India relationship. We are hopeful that your second visit will lead to the continuation and deepening of the Indian investment into the US economy, as well as the use of US technological knowledge to drive more development in India," the 33 Congressmen, from both the Republican and Democratic parties, said.

Looking forward to Modi's upcoming trip to California, which marks the first time an Indian head of government has visited the Golden State in 33 years, the Congressmen said this trip to Silicon Valley will help showcase the exciting contributions Indians and Indian-Americans make to the US technology industry.

The letter among others was signed by Congressmen Ami Bera and George Holding, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans -- Ed Royce, Chairman of powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee and Tulsi Gabbard.

"We applaud your and President Obama's commitment to the strategic partnership which has already led to several accomplishments including the Delhi Declaration of Friendship, the adoption of a Joint Strategic Vision for Asia and Pacific and Indian Ocean region, and the announcement of renewal of the ten-year Defense Cooperation Agreement," the lawmakers said.

"Close collaboration between our governments has led to progress in several areas including counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, cyber-security, science and technology, knowledge economy, energy, space, and health to name just a few," they said.

"We are excited to see how it progresses in the near future for both countries. Additionally, your decision to open up domestic markets to foreign direct investment has helped grow US investment into India to $28 billion. And at the same time, trade between our countries has reached about $120 billion," the lawmakers said in their letter.