USIBC highlights India’s importance as high-skilled talent source

“India is an important consumer market and growing manufacturing hub for global companies,” says advocacy body

US-India Business Council (USIBC) has highlighted the importance of India as a vital source for high-skilled talent and as an important consumer market and growing manufacturing hub for global companies.

Congratulating former Los Angles mayor Eric Garcetti on his Senate confirmation as the US Ambassador to India, US chamber of Commerce’s India specific trade body described the world’s fifth largest economy as “an essential partner to the United States.”

Read: USIBC proposes ‘5 Big Ideas’ to elevate US-India trade ties (January 26, 2021)

“The US India Business Council is pleased that the Senate has confirmed Eric Garcetti as the US Ambassador to India. As the world’s largest democracy and fastest growing large economy, India is an essential partner to the United States as it seeks to bolster its strategic, technological, and economic leadership in the Indo-Pacific,” said Atul Keshap, President of USIBC.

“I wish Ambassador Garcetti a successful posting in New Delhi. Having a US Ambassador to India is critical as both great democracies work to build their Quad partnership and high-trust ecosystem, underpinned by shared democratic values.”

Alexander Slater, USIBC’s Managing Director and head of its New Delhi Office, also welcomed Garcetti saying, “We strongly support the appointment of a US Ambassador to India and know that Ambassador Garcetti brings significant leadership experience to the position.”

“Our team looks forward to continuing our close engagement with the US Embassy under his guidance, especially on key drivers of the bilateral relationship such as the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies,” he said.

“Eric Garcetti’s appointment as Ambassador sends an important signal to the Government and people of India as well as industry in both countries about the importance President Biden places on the US-India relationship,” Slater said.

“USIBC will work collaboratively with him and the Government of India to strengthen bilateral strategic and economic ties and promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

READ: USIBC launches India Advisory Council to strengthen US-India commercial relations (April 10, 2018)

Shreerupa Mitra, USIBC’s Deputy Managing Director, highlighted that this confirmation comes at a key time for US-India relations, with India taking up the G20 presidency for the first time this year.

“As a vital source of high-skilled talent and a rising hub for high-value manufacturing, India has a global role to play in fortifying supply chains and achieving sustainable development goals,” she said.

“The confirmation of Eric Garcetti as the US Ambassador to India will add necessary focus and energy behind these efforts, ultimately helping both our countries achieve critical goals in decarbonization, human development, and economic resilience.”

The USIBC said it has played an active role in enhancing bilateral trade between the world’s oldest and largest democracy since 1975, working across eight administrations from both parties and 15 ambassadors to foster long-term public-private partnerships and business-to-business ties.

As a part of the US Chamber of Commerce, USIBC strongly believes that America must once again lead on trade, the trade advocacy body said in a press release.

“Enhancing bilateral trade with India is vital to Washington’s efforts to fortify key supply chains, boost our economic competitiveness, and promote America’s global leadership,” it said.

Garcetti was confirmed Wednesday by a vote of 52 to 42, with seven Republican senators joining all but three Democratic senators — Mazie K. Hirono, Sherrod Brown and Mark Kelly — in approving him for the top diplomatic post in New Delhi.

Read: U.S. Chamber Congratulates Eric Garcetti on his Confirmation as U.S. Ambassador to India (March 17, 2023)

Garcetti told the New York Times Wednesday that the arduous Senate confirmation process was “a long road, but a great destination,” noting that he studied Hindi in college and that as mayor he worked with his Indian counterparts “on everything from energy to ports to culture and urbanization.”

“I think I was in tears at the end. There were times it was trying, but I always understood the political process takes time,” he added.