Press Release
Bera Welcomes Prime Minister Modi to U.S.
Washington, DC,
September 22, 2015
Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., the only Indian American in Congress and Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, and 33 other members sent a letter today to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi welcoming him to the United States for his second consecutive visit and his first visit to the West Coast. Prime Minister Modi is visiting California and touring several Silicon Valley companies this week, including Facebook, Google, and Tesla. In the letter, Congressional members highlight the value the Silicon Valley trip will have. "We look forward to your upcoming trip to California, which marks the first time an Indian head of government has visited the Golden State in 33 years. This trip to Silicon Valley will help showcase the exciting contributions Indians and Indian Americans make to the U.S. technology industry. It was clear that your last trip to the United States provided the momentum needed to refocus the U.S.-India relationship. We are hopeful that your second visit will lead to the continuation and deepening of the Indian investment into the U.S. economy, as well as the use of U.S. technological knowledge to drive more development in India."
September 22, 2015 His Excellency Narendra Modi Dear Prime Minister Modi, We are honored to welcome you to the United States for the second consecutive year. Under your leadership, our bilateral relationship has been revitalized and India has undergone a domestic transformation while engaging with the world and continuing to serve as a democratic model. Your visit to the United States provides an opportunity to reflect on the effects your leadership has had on the U.S.-India relationship over the last year. We applaud your and President Obama's commitment to the strategic partnership which has already led to several accomplishments including the Delhi Declaration of Friendship, the adoption of a Joint Strategic Vision for Asia and Pacific and Indian Ocean region, and the announcement of renewal of the ten-year Defense Cooperation Agreement. Close collaboration between our governments has led to progress in several areas including counterterrorism, non-proliferation, cyber-security, science and technology, knowledge economy, energy, space, and health to name just a few. We are excited to see how it progresses in the near future for both countries. Additionally, your decision to open up domestic markets to foreign direct investment has helped grow U.S. investment into India to $28 billion. And at the same time, trade between our countries has reached about $120 billion. We look forward to your upcoming trip to California, which marks the first time an Indian head of government has visited the Golden State in 33 years. This trip to Silicon Valley will help showcase the exciting contributions Indians and Indian Americans make to the U.S. technology industry. It was clear that your last trip to the United States provided the momentum needed to refocus the U.S.-India relationship. We are hopeful that your second visit will lead to the continuation and deepening of the Indian investment into the U.S. economy, as well as the use of U.S. technological knowledge to drive more development in India. What has cemented the renewed bilateral commitment is the maturity of the relationship. This has been reflected at the highest levels, with you and President Obama driving the relationship, and at the citizen-to-citizen level. The United States has greatly benefited from the contribution of millions of Indians and Indian Americans living here. These people-to-people relationships will ensure that our partnership will only flourish for years to come. ### |