AGARTALA: The United States was trying to improve relation with India and other south east Asian countries on strategic sectors, including expansion of higher education, energy and issues of climate change, said newly appointed US Consul General of eastern India at Kolkata Dean Thompson.
Talking to reporters hereon Thursday Mr Thompson said among the southeast Asian countries the US had always given priority to the interest of India than other neighbouring nations and the US administration was trying hard to better its relation with India in all possible sectors.
”US doesn’t want to improve relation with China at the cost of India’s alliance,” Mr Thompson stated while expressing concern over the recent Chinese exercises along Indo-China border.
Mr Thompson along with his officials paid a three-day maiden visit which ended yesterday to Tripura, to extend collaborative programme in several sectors, including environment, business and trade between the two nations.
The US envoy also emphasised on better understanding and trade activities of India with its neighbouring countries.
Hinting at Bangladesh, Mr Thompson said understanding with Burma might be a positive step on bilateral understanding for progress of the sub-continent.
India and its neighbouring countries have got a very peaceful ambience of stability and mutual understanding, he pointed out.
He described India as the seventh fastest growing source of investment for his country.The US is also banking on ”possible” opening of FDI in multi-brand retailing, as a means to step up its business activities in India. ”Opening up the market to multi-brand foreign retailers will serve to elevate standards in the sector,” Mr Thompson said. From 2006-2010, American firms have invested a total of $6.5 billion in India.
India now stands one of the largest markets for the US clean energy technologies.
In 2011-12, two of the three US financing agencies approved 173 transactions in India, totaling $1.4 billion, in solar energy. (UNI)