US envoy rules out opening its Consulate in Bangalore

"There is no prospect of opening another Consul General office in India after the one opened in Hyderabad last year", Andrew T Simkin, US Consul General in Chennai, told reporters here after calling on Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

During his 30-minute long interaction with the Chief Minister, Simkin assured to increase facilities for people of Karnataka who go to Chennai Consulate for visa and other documentation.
The interview time has been reduced to two-days for visa seekers, he said, adding they planned to provide "virtual presence post" through a dedicated website specially for the people of the state.

Later, Yeddyurappa told reporters that he had informed Simkin of his upcoming visit to US in October, ahead of the Global Investors Meet planned in December to lure investors.

He said he also sought the help of US authorities in providing information to investors about the meet and impressed upon them (authorities) that Bangalore offered a congenial atmosphere for investments.