Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
US Ambassador Sergio Gor has met the Chief Ministers of Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana in less than a week, signalling a sharper US outreach to southern India. His latest stop was Kochi, where he met Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan to discuss investment, education, tourism and maritime ties.
Satheesan pitched Kerala as an investment destination, highlighting opportunities around Vizhinjam International Seaport and Kochi Port in maritime logistics, shipbuilding, ship repair, green bunkering and other port-led industries.
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The two sides explored partnerships between universities and research institutions in Kerala and the United States, including joint research, academic exchanges and innovation programmes.
Gor, on his first visit to Kerala, emphasised the state’s tourism potential, particularly in wellness and Ayurveda, and suggested exploring “Sister City” partnerships between cities in Kerala and the US.
The Chief Minister also proposed setting up an Invest Desk in the United States to connect American businesses with opportunities in Kerala and deepen engagement with the Malayali diaspora.
KARNATAKA CM SEEKS FULL-FLEDGED US CONSULATE
Before Kerala, Gor visited Karnataka, where Chief Minister D K Shivakumar renewed the state’s demand for a full-fledged US Consulate in Bengaluru.
Shivakumar said Karnataka was ready to provide the “best possible place” for the mission, arguing that Bengaluru’s growing global prominence strengthened the case for a permanent consular presence.
“I am very happy that the entire world is looking at Bengaluru. Through Bengaluru, India is growing. That is why we are asking for a full-fledged US Consulate, not just a trade office,” he said.
During the visit, Gor highlighted Karnataka’s strong economic ties with the United States, noting that more than 1,000 American companies operate in the state.
He also pointed to expanding India-US cooperation in defence, healthcare, advanced technology and resilient supply chains, while discussing investment opportunities in advanced manufacturing, technology, space and environmental sectors.
TELANGANA CM PUTS VISAS ON AGENDA
Earlier in the week, Gor met Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in New Delhi, with visas emerging as a key focus of their discussions.
Reddy urged the US to increase visa slots for students from Telangana, ensure quicker appointments and streamline H-1B visa renewals and stamping procedures for professionals.
He also raised concerns over the safety and welfare of Telangana students in the US and sought advance communication on changes to American visa rules.
“Telugu is one of the fastest-growing languages in America, and Ambassador Gor has given us a categorical assurance on extending all support in augmenting the scope of our relationships on all fronts,” Reddy said.
The Chief Minister also pitched Telangana as an investment destination for American companies in information technology, artificial intelligence, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, startups, research and advanced technologies.
He sought stronger partnerships between US universities and educational institutions in Telangana, including student exchanges, research collaborations and skill-development programmes.
Gor assured cooperation in expanding Telangana-US ties across trade, investment and cultural exchanges.
THE TAKEAWAY
The three meetings in quick succession point to a broader US push to deepen engagement with southern states that are increasingly central to India’s technology, business and higher education ecosystem.
Karnataka is already home to more than 1,000 American companies and remains a major hub for technology, startups and advanced manufacturing. Telangana has emerged as a key centre for IT, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, besides having strong educational and professional links with the United States.
Kerala, meanwhile, is pitching itself around ports, maritime infrastructure, tourism and higher education, while seeking to leverage its sizeable Malayali diaspora in the US to attract investment.
Taken together, Gor’s meetings show Washington looking beyond New Delhi to build stronger state-level partnerships, with investment, technology, education, tourism, visas and people-to-people ties emerging as recurring themes.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
