Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Following is a statement issued by U.S. Consulate General Mumbai on John Kerry’s Gujarat visit that ended today:

Today, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his delegation completed a historic two-day visit to the biennial Vibrant Gujarat Summit. While in Gujarat, the Secretary discussed the importance of the U.S.-India strategic partnership, and how U.S. technology and innovation can enhance sustainable economic growth throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

The Secretary’s high-level delegation to Vibrant Gujarat included recently-arrived U.S. Ambassador to India Richard Verma, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Catherine Novelli, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal, Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine Russell, Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and Assistant Secretary for Global Markets Arun Kumar, and National Security Council Director for South Asia Matt Lowe. They were joined in Gujarat by Consul General Tom Vajda of the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, which includes Gujarat state within its consular district.

Secretary Kerry, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon inaugurated the Vibrant Gujarat Summit yesterday. The Secretary also attended the Global CEOs Conclave, where he spoke to international business leaders and innovators on strengthening trade and investment ties between the United States and India. In a separate bilateral meeting, Secretary Kerry and Prime Minister Modi discussed how the United States and India can together affirmatively shape global politics and economics in the 21st century, and the opportunity for our partnership to bolster sustainable economic growth in India and across the world.

In addition, Secretary Kerry held a series of bilateral meetings with Secretary-General Ban and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay. The Secretary also met with Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal, and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal to discuss the importance of enhanced U.S.-India cooperation on clean energy generation, and how both countries can work together to address the challenges of climate change.

Outside of his official meetings, Secretary Kerry visited the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, which holds a special meaning to Indians and Americans alike as the home of Mahatma Gandhi. While there, he discussed with entrepreneurs and activists the vital importance of women’s economic leadership in India as a key component to inclusive growth in the 21st century. The Secretary also toured a Ford automotive factory scheduled to open later this year, which represents a $1 billion U.S. investment in India that will double the company’s manufacturing capacity within the country. Secretary Kerry met numerous U.S. and Indian CEOs also attending Vibrant Gujarat.

This is the first time that the United States has served as a partner country for Vibrant Gujarat. In another U.S.-India milestone, President Obama will travel to India later in January 2015. He will be the first U.S. President to attend India’s Republic Day as Chief Guest and first sitting U.S. President to visit India twice.

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