S Jaishankar.
Credit: PTI Photo
Bengaluru: The US on Friday opened its consulate in Bengaluru, a long-pending move expected to strengthen the Indo-American ties, benefiting businesses, aerospace, education and science sectors.
While visa services will not be available for the pilot year, the consulate will expand the over 30-year presence of the US government in Bengaluru by increasing diplomatic engagement on economic and political issues, conducting public diplomacy and people-to-people engagements.
Initially, consular services will continue to be performed in the US Consulate in Chennai and other US diplomatic posts in India.
Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar described the move as an "important milestone" as the Regional Passport Office (RPO), Bengaluru, issued over 8.8 lakh passports last year.
"Enabling visas will be our top priority, moving forward," he said, adding that the formal opening of the US consulate would be heavily based on technology, space, defence, leveraging Bengaluru’s identity as the Silicon Valley of India.
Bengaluru’s three weekly flights to San Francisco, the presence of 3.5 lakh Indian students in the US, and a diaspora of five million people made a powerful case to have a consulate in Bengaluru.
"Education and research possibilities will be opened up with collaborative campuses, exchange of students and stronger American educational presence in Bengaluru," Jaishankar said.
Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador for India, noted that the consulate would play a pivotal role in fostering collaborations in commerce, science, technology, education and culture.
"Our relationship truly extends from the seabed to the stars, and nowhere is that truer than here in Bengaluru. The innovation and entrepreneurship of this state — from semiconductors to space — is matched only by Silicon Valley in my home state of California. I'm so proud to dedicate our new consulate site and announce the expansion of the collaboration between the American people and the citizens of Karnataka," he stated.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the consulate’s opening was the realisation of former chief minister SM Krishna’s vision set 29 years ago, when Atal Bihari Vajapayee was the Prime Minister of India.
"Despite infrastructure challenges, Bengaluru continues to attract Fortune 500 companies and remains a key player on the global stage," Shivakumar said.
The establishment of the US consulate in Bengaluru is expected to streamline visa services for Karnataka residents, reducing their dependence on the consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad.