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The Obama administration is ratcheting up its involvement with India in its waning days with a flurry of activity preceding the landmark visit of the President scheduled for India’s Republic Day Jan. 26.
Secretary of State John Kerry leaves for India Jan. 10 to attend and address the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit, an annual event Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been holding since his days as Chief Minister of that state.
The Secretary will join leading U.S. business executives and innovators at the Vibrant Gujarat summit. He will also be meeting a range of officials to discuss preparations for President Obama’s impending visit according to the State Department.
As one of the keynote speakers along with other luminaries like United Nations Secretary General Ban ki Moon, Kerry will focus on the critical role American technology plays in supporting sustainable economic growth across India and the Indo-Pacific region, the State Department said. “… certainly innovation, our energy cooperation and partnership, our economic relationship are central to the focus of the dialogue between the Secretary and his counterparts when he visits India this weekend,” State Department spokesperson Jan Psaki said during a press briefing Jan. 7. He will also talk about strengthening trade and investment between the two countries.
This is the first time the United States will join the event as a partner country. Policymakers have missed past opportunities because of the visa ban on Modi which led to a virtual shunning of the then chief minister. European countries meanwhile, filled the gap and made strides with Modi. Washington, D.C. is now playing catch-up.
