The US government believes its relationship with India is one of the most important relationships worldwide. There is a real recognition of India’s importance in this part of the world and there is a serious commitment on the part of the US to support India in its interest in expanding its role in the region as a security provider. This is also in the interest of the US national security.
The US Department of State acting deputy assistant secretary for South Asia, Thomas L Vajda, told Telangana Today in an exclusive interview, “We are interested in working with India across a broad range of issues including counter-terrorism, defence, military exercises and peace keeping.”
“The key hallmarks of our relationship are our commercial and economic ties. That’s why co-hosting GES is such a natural fit. We both have spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation as hallmarks of our society and this summit is an illustration of strong partnership of both the nations,” he added.
Last year, the bilateral trade between the nations exceeded a record $140 billion. Bilateral foreign direct investment has been $40 billion. There are 1,86,000 Indian students studying in the US. Both the nations have seen high level exchanges by governments in the recent past.
Under the new administration, the US has offered an opportunity to purchase the Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Systems in the special interest of India, which wants to strengthen its maritime domain. This is the first time the US has offered this to a country that is not its formal security ally. The US is also prepared to sell F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft to India, the tough topline aircraft which are used by the US Air Force and Navy. This is in line with the US’ commitment to strengthen its global ties in terms of security.
Talking about the vibrancy of entrepreneurship in India, he says, “I had been struck by the dynamism and the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in India. It’s a large country, a country on the move that has a large and growing middle-class and it’s a huge market with a large consumer base. There is a real commitment to education, science and technology. However, India has its own challenges but it has governments at the Centre and States to reform. India has a great chance of harnessing demographic dividend and harnessing economic growth.”
When asked what he feels about the startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem in India, he explains, there are discussions in India on the development of startup environment through Startup India. Nations are realising that job growth is going to happen through startups and small businesses. Big companies are going to grow and expand but small businesses bring in a lot of dynamism and real job growth. It’s also important for nations now to bring more women entrepreneurs. Data shows that when women entrepreneurs prosper, global GDP will go up. Harnessing the half population (women) to able to meet their full potential is going to be a key challenge for all nations.
On the improvement of ease of doing business ranking of India and Moody’s revision of the country’s rating, he said, the US sees it as an indication that the reform path that India has taken is in the right direction. As long as India pursues these reforms and continues to improve its business environment, the country will see more foreign companies willing to invest in the country. US would be keen to improve its trade ties with India.
“I am very optimistic of the Indo-US ties in the coming years. There is a commonality of interests and values. Both nations have diverse population. Both are democracies and are committed to free markets. Both are committed to international law and this confluence of values and interests and the ties between people are going to strengthen the ties between the nations. India is one the fastest growing economies and the US is very keen to work along with it. A lot of the US companies will be interested in both investing and selling their products in India.”
Vajda oversees the US policy towards and diplomatic relations with India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Most recently, he served as US consul general in Mumbai from 2014-17.
Source : https://telanganatoday.com/us-sees-india-security-ally-us-official
The US Department of State acting deputy assistant secretary for South Asia, Thomas L Vajda, told Telangana Today in an exclusive interview, “We are interested in working with India across a broad range of issues including counter-terrorism, defence, military exercises and peace keeping.”
“The key hallmarks of our relationship are our commercial and economic ties. That’s why co-hosting GES is such a natural fit. We both have spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation as hallmarks of our society and this summit is an illustration of strong partnership of both the nations,” he added.
Last year, the bilateral trade between the nations exceeded a record $140 billion. Bilateral foreign direct investment has been $40 billion. There are 1,86,000 Indian students studying in the US. Both the nations have seen high level exchanges by governments in the recent past.
Under the new administration, the US has offered an opportunity to purchase the Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial Systems in the special interest of India, which wants to strengthen its maritime domain. This is the first time the US has offered this to a country that is not its formal security ally. The US is also prepared to sell F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft to India, the tough topline aircraft which are used by the US Air Force and Navy. This is in line with the US’ commitment to strengthen its global ties in terms of security.
Talking about the vibrancy of entrepreneurship in India, he says, “I had been struck by the dynamism and the entrepreneurial spirit that exists in India. It’s a large country, a country on the move that has a large and growing middle-class and it’s a huge market with a large consumer base. There is a real commitment to education, science and technology. However, India has its own challenges but it has governments at the Centre and States to reform. India has a great chance of harnessing demographic dividend and harnessing economic growth.”
When asked what he feels about the startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem in India, he explains, there are discussions in India on the development of startup environment through Startup India. Nations are realising that job growth is going to happen through startups and small businesses. Big companies are going to grow and expand but small businesses bring in a lot of dynamism and real job growth. It’s also important for nations now to bring more women entrepreneurs. Data shows that when women entrepreneurs prosper, global GDP will go up. Harnessing the half population (women) to able to meet their full potential is going to be a key challenge for all nations.
On the improvement of ease of doing business ranking of India and Moody’s revision of the country’s rating, he said, the US sees it as an indication that the reform path that India has taken is in the right direction. As long as India pursues these reforms and continues to improve its business environment, the country will see more foreign companies willing to invest in the country. US would be keen to improve its trade ties with India.
“I am very optimistic of the Indo-US ties in the coming years. There is a commonality of interests and values. Both nations have diverse population. Both are democracies and are committed to free markets. Both are committed to international law and this confluence of values and interests and the ties between people are going to strengthen the ties between the nations. India is one the fastest growing economies and the US is very keen to work along with it. A lot of the US companies will be interested in both investing and selling their products in India.”
Vajda oversees the US policy towards and diplomatic relations with India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives. Most recently, he served as US consul general in Mumbai from 2014-17.
Source : https://telanganatoday.com/us-sees-india-security-ally-us-official