American ambassador says he is excited and optimistic about US-India ties.
AB Wire
WASHINGTON, DC: Taking stock of the bilateral ties during his first six months in office, American Ambassador to India Richard Verma said Friday that he is “optimistic” and “enthusiastic” about where relations between the United States and India are headed.
“This is an exciting time to be in New Delhi,” the envoy, who took charge in January ahead of President Barack Obama’s trip to India, said. “[We] have seen a real commitment by our partners in India to carry out a bold mission for an India on the rise.”
Verma, the first Indian American to be posted as the US ambassador in Delhi, was speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC.
The roughly 23-minute speech by the ambassador focused largely on, in his own words, “what we in the embassy have seen and why we are still very optimistic about the opportunities and for the stronger partnership” with India.
“I continue to believe we are on a path to increase cooperation across all sectors and becoming India’s best partner, as President Obama called for in January,” he said, presenting a laundry list of areas where the two countries are cooperating, including defense, clean energy and sustainable development.
“We are pleased that our trade in goods and services has finally crossed the elusive $100 billion and stands at $103 billion,” he said.
Verma sounded positive note about the “Make in India” initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised the Indian government’s promotion of “cooperative federalism and encouragement of states that are now competing for investment.”
Citing recent road shows in the United States by the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and Google’s decision to build its largest campus outside of the United States in Telangana, Verma said, “I think we are seeing an increasing race to the top, among Indian states to attract outside investment, which will be good for India, good for our relationship as well.”
The ambassador said ultimately “the direction the economy is one for India to decide, but I sense there is recognition among many that if India is to realize its goals for Make in India, it needs to adopt an attitude of encouraging foreign investment, not just permitting them. This will take not just welcoming words, but decisive actions in a range of areas, including on tax, on intellectual property and regulatory streamlining.”
Verma also mentioned the need for sustainable development, combating climate change and tackling air pollution. The challenge of urbanization, which is being met through building smart cities, present opportunities, he said.
The ambassador praised Modi’s willingness to play a larger role in the global arena. “[The prime minister] is signaling that India will be player on the global stage for years to come,” Verma said, pointing out that Modi has visited “over 18 countries and 33 cities” in the past year. “We welcome and support that global leadership role, politically, economically and in global institutions.”
The humanitarian support provided by India in the wake of Nepal earthquakes, civil strife in Yemen and water crisis in Maldives are examples of India’s eagerness to play a constructive role globally, Verma said.
Watch Ambassador Verma’s speech at CSIS on June 4, 2015