USAID Administrator Power and Indian Ambassador Kwatra discuss India-US emerging strategic initiatives

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator, Samantha Power, and the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, met and discussed emerging strategic opportunities between both countries on October 7, 2024, in Washington D.C.

During their meeting, the officials reviewed ongoing collaborative efforts between the U.S. and India in the Indo-Pacific region under the Triangular Development Partnership (TriDeP), a USAID funded program, and reaffirmed their dedication to the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership.

“The Administrator highlighted opportunities to build on the U.S. and India’s evolving strategic development partnership to address shared global goals and emphasized our joint work in the Indo-Pacific under the Triangular Development Partnership (TriDeP),” noted USAID Spokesperson Benjamin Suarato in a statement on October 8^th. “Administrator Power and Ambassador Kwatra discussed India’s leadership role in catalyzing regional clean energy ambitions, and Administrator Power reaffirmed USAID’s commitment to the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership.”

The Asia Foundation noted that the United States and India share a mutual vision for a “free and open Indo-Pacific region.” Per the Foundation, the TriDeP initiative has been designed to expand India’s development cooperation within the Indo-Pacific, working towards common regional development goals. Under this program, India’s position “as a development leader and preferred partner in the Indo-Pacific,” will be further strengthened in partnership with the U.S.

According to the Asia Foundation, TriDeP focuses on three key priority areas where India showcases “policy leadership, practical experience, and sustainable results.” It added that across the region, TriDeP will foster demand-driven partnerships, including through triangular cooperation, guided by the “4E approach: engage, explore, expand, and establish.”

The Asia Foundation is serving as the implementation partner of TriDep to strengthen the development cooperation between India and the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

A report titled, “India-U.S. Triangular Development Partnership: Renewable Energy: Establishing India-U.S. Triangular Development Cooperation Partnerships in the Indo-Pacific Region,” published by USAID and The Asia Foundation, emphasized India’s leadership in policy and technical expertise in sectors such as Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate-Smart Agriculture, and Renewable Energy. The report positions India as a key provider of sustainable solutions in these fields.

On July 17^th of this year, the United States, India, and Tanzania also launched a TriDep initiative aimed at enhancing energy infrastructure and advancing renewable energy initiatives in Tanzania.

(Used with permission from South Asian Herald)