US consulate in Hyd to start operations in 2008

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.

Initially, the Consulate would function from Paigah Plaza, the present headquarters of Hyderabad Urban Development Authority.

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.

"Every available resource in the embassy was utilised to achieve this", she said.

As the under secretary for management, Fore leads various bureaus including that of consular affairs and overseas buildings operations.

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.

Besides pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, the city has good potential for medical tourism too, he added.