The U.S. Under Secretary on Gujarat visit


Ahmedabad, 22 February, 2012

The U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Francisco Sánchez is in Gujarat today leading the first-ever Ports and Maritime Technology Trade Mission to India.

Twelve U.S. ports and maritime companies are accompanying Mr. Francisco Sánchez on the mission, with the goal of finding Indian partners to help them participate in India’s various port expansion projects.

Under Secretary Sánchez witnessed the signing of a sister port MOU between the Port of Baltimore and the Adani Group’s Mundra Port. The MOU, which was signed at the Adani Group’s headquarters in Ahmedabad, will facilitate mutual cooperation in port management and port planning.

Later in the day Under Secretary Sanchez addressed students and faculty at the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU) in Gandinagar, Gujarat. During his remarks Under Secretary Sánchez noted that PDPU has ongoing collaborations with U.S. institutions such as Texas A&M University, Georgia Tech University, and the University of Oklahoma, and that PDPU has sent nearly 100 of its students on study tours to the U.S.

Under Secretary Sánchez encouraged PDPU to continue fostering Indo-U.S. linkages in the educational sector and he reaffirmed that the United States is committed to India and that the U.S. values the lasting contributions of the Indian people. He also noted that Indian students will play a big role in shaping the 21st century.

Under Secretary Sánchez leads the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration (ITA). ITA is at the forefront of President Obama’s National Export Initiative, an Executive Order signed in 2009 which aims to double U.S. exports by 2014.