Good things are happening in India-US relations: Ambassador Arun Singh

After serving four and a half years as deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy, Arun Kumar Singh was moved to France as Ambassador in 2013. When he returned to the US earlier this year as India’s Ambassador, he found that the India-US relations have reached another level since he left. “As President Barrack Obama said the two countries are natural allies and it is a defining partnership. So many things are happening between the two nations,” he said at a community reception organized at Royal Albert’s Palace in Fords, New Jersey, August 9.

He noted that President Obama went to India for a second time to attend the Republic Day celebrations, which was a historic event that shows how much importance the US is giving to India.

The cooperation between the two countries in defense is growing up and the US is the largest supplier of military articles. In the last 5 years India procured $10 billion worth of military supplies from the US.

“The C 130 aircraft we acquired from the US helped us well during natural calamities like in the earthquake in Nepal,” he noted. Both countries are also moving in the right direction as regards technology transfer for defense production.

Singh also noted that the US is India’s biggest trading partner. At the same time, the investment of India and Indians in the US is also growing. The $15 billion India invested in the US has created 90,000 jobs. New Jersey ranks top in investment by Indians.

He also cited the contributions to the IT sector bringing innovation and technology.  Another area that India contributed heavily is healthcare and pharmaceutics. About 30 percent of generic drugs are coming from India, which helps affordable care. Indian contribution in hospitality business too is praiseworthy.

People to people contact is what defines the relationship between the two countries. More than 3 million Indians are here fostering the relations further.

He also explained about the planning to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in California on September 27. It will be on the lines of the reception given last year at the Madison Square Garden in New York, which was a very a successful event watched by people in many countries, he said.

Consul General Dnyaneshwar M Mulay introduced the Ambassador and his wife Dr Myna Chawla Singh, an educator. He noted the various contributions of Singh over the last 35 years.

Rockland County Legislator Dr Aney Paul presented the details of the resolution of the New York State Senate and House declaring August as Indian Heritage Month.

Around 300 people, mostly community leaders and noted professionals attended the event. Andy Bhatia, the event’s co-coordinator welcomed the gathering. Federation of Indian Associations-NY, NJ, CT, the organizer of the India Day Parade in New York City on August 16 led the event with several other organizations. FIA president Ankur Vaidya honored Ambassador Singh with a plaque.

FIA chairman Ramesh Patel greeted the ambassador promising all help from the community. Vinod Jhunjhunuwala of Ekal Vidyalaya explained the work of the Ekal movement and requested the guidance of the ambassador. He said India can count on the overseas Indians in time of need like natural calamities and other things.

Dr Sudhir Parikh, publisher of Parikh Worldwide Media noted about a business roundtable he had hosted earlier in the day where the Ambassador addressed a number of business leaders.

Though deepening and widening US-India relations is the Ambassador’s main priority, ‘he is here to enjoy one of the perks of his day job-basking in the admiration and affection of the community. I am afraid when it comes to such things we are not a model minority. We can be boisterous and eager.’

He also noted the various contributions of the community for their motherland including lobbying for the civil nuclear treaty, helping India in all its moments of need like earthquake and tsunami and the continuing philanthropy individually.

‘But what the community can really do for India and US-India relations is still in the realm of unrealized potential. We welcome you this evening as the man who will harness that potential. We look up to your leadership, direction and unity within the community for the larger purpose of strengthening India’s relations with the US,” Dr Parikh said.

Dr Seema Jain, president of AAPI said that there are about 65000 physicians from India in the US and another 35,000 young physicians of Indian origin. AAPI is helping India in different ways. It is helping fight the diabetes epidemic and also plans to adopt villages as per the call of the prime minister. She said the global summit of AAPI will be held in Delhi in January next year.

Ankur Vaidya praised the work of the New York consulate. He said the consulate is accessible to everyone and keeps transparency in its work. It is quite unprecedented.

The host committee included Anil Bansal, Shobana Patel, Dr Seema Jain, Rajeev Bhambri, Kamlesh Mehta, Raj Bhayani, Dr Sudhir Parikh, HR Shah, Juned Qazi, Srinivas Ganaguni, Yasin Lathiwala, Raj Amar, Paresh Suthar, Kalpana Patel, Kiran Nambiaar (CKGS), Arun Bhansali, Rashmi Sharma, Vinod Jhunjunnwala and Dr Sanjay Gupta.