India-US ties are for global good: Indian Ambassador to US

As a part of India’s wider outreach to the United States, Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu connected with over 40 states including New Hampshire where he addressed the state assembly on Thursday, March 6, 2023.
Ambassador Sandhu spoke about the collaboration and challenges in building India-US ties.

“We are guided by the same values and vision, “we, the people”…… I am convinced of the strength of our shared beliefs, and deep-rooted friendship, and partnership,” he said.

“India-US ties, either in the field of defense, renewable energy, education, health, technology, innovation or start-ups, are gathering steam and strength because of the entrepreneurs of the United States,” he added.

“The Indian pharma industry accounts for the supply of 40 per cent of all generic medicines in the US. Solar energy projects, waste-to-wealth innovations, and circular economy models are bringing new actors into the India-New Hampshire space,” he added.

He went on to highlight India’s zero-subsidy domestic lighting program, Affordable LED for All, UJALA, larges of its kind in the world, and about NASA collaborating with Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO on a Syn-thetic Aperture Radar that can help monitor climate change. NASA will soon train India’s next astronaut, he noted.

“President Biden and Prime Minister Modi characterize India-US ties as ‘Partnership for Global Good’, the most defining relationship of the 21st century,” he added.

The partnership within the QUAD, IPEF and I2U2 frameworks are creating progress and prosperity for the world at large, he said, adding, “As trusted global partners, we are working to address pressing challenges of our times.”

Other areas of cooperation he highlighted include de-risking the global supply chain, navigating the world of critical and emerging technologies, responding to climate change, terrorism and threats from the cyber domain, health security and future pandemics.

The solutions to these complex questions would involve combining, American technology and Indian talent he said.

“India and US launched a historic initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies, semiconductors, Artificial Intelligence, Telecom, and Quantum. We have active vaccine and medicine collaborations such as the Corbevax that are more affordable and accessible,” he added further.

Sandhu pointed to the Indian diaspora as “a vibrant and strong bridge connecting our two great nations,” noting that the World Bank will soon be headed by former Mastercard chief Ajay Banga.”

“The massive transformation underway in India – politically, socially, and economically – is an important enabler in deepening India’s ties, with the US,” Sandhu contended.

“India stands today, as a beacon of stability, amidst geopolitical uncertainties; an usher of global economic growth; a solution provider to some of the complex challenges of our times; and a consensus builder in times of conflict and rising tensions. India remains interesting, important and incredible,” Sandhu said highlighting some of India’s domestic initiatives like national biometric program, Aadhar, Jan Dhan Yojana etc., as well as its dynamic startup environment, and how it helped supply vaccines to 100 countries during the COVID pandemic. As head of the G-20 this year, he said, India follows the motto, “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

He quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying “Much of India that we dream of lies ahead of us”.

“It is only a journey we have started, we look towards our friends, like the United States, to join us, in our journey ahead,” Sandhu said.