The India-U.S. relationship needs more substance. It may appear to be grand, but pull back the curtain and it turns out that the image is far more impressive than the truth
PRAVASISAMWAD.COM
Over the past 10 years, India and America have developed a global strategic partnership that has overcome Cold War-era distrust and estrangement and has been strengthened by intensified cooperation in the security sphere. Yet, with all the forward movement, there is still so much that could be accomplished by closing a few gaping holes in the relationship and further reinforcing the bond, writes Arun Agarwal (CEO of Dallas-based textile company Nextt USA, co-chair of the Indian American CEO Council, vice chair of the Texas Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, and president of the Dallas Park and Recreation Board) in The Dallas Morning News.
The India-U.S. relationship needs more substance. It may appear to be grand, but pull back the curtain and it turns out that the image is far more impressive than the truth. Rhetoric about shared democratic values and global economic synergies needs to be supported with the appropriate action necessary to turn our shared vision into a reality.
The steps outlined above will help India and the United States create a long-lasting diplomatic relationship while also allowing Dallas to become a primary focal point in the strategic partnership
The United States has not appointed an Ambassador to India, leaving that seat vacant for more than 20 months. That marks the longest stretch ever with no US ambassador to India. The actions of the US government conflict with the words officials speak, and it is time for our lawmakers to recognize the tremendous opportunities that they are missing by continuing to ignore the global strategic advances that could be made by partnering with the world’s largest democracy and an emerging world superpower.
This is too important of a relationship to overlook, especially given the enormous direct investment that flows from the United States to India and rapidly increasing US exports to India. India’s government has tremendous power to shape and implement policies beneficial to the United States in areas such as agriculture, education, energy and health care.
Closer to home, Dallas has been the headquarters of the Indian American CEO Council since 2018. The group released a study in August that clearly demonstrates why the relationship is so important on both a local and national level. The study concluded that, among other things, “Indian Americans represent the fastest-growing immigrant group in the United States. Economically, they are among the highest median-income earners of all immigrants.”
Given these findings, and extrapolating the results on a broader scale, the socio-economic benefits of a strong strategic alliance are clear. By committing to a long-term bilateral relationship, Indian investment in the U.S. can easily support significant job growth in this country and the nearly 200,000 Indian students in the United States can meaningfully contribute to the U.S. economy in both a financial and intellectual capacity.
But for this vision to manifest in any sort of consequential way, legislative leaders need to make a commitment to the bright future that is within our sights. The time for mere rhetoric has passed and the time for action is upon us. We can no longer accept excuses and partisanship from our lawmakers when, with each passing month, we are losing billions of dollars in business opportunities because of a lack of strong actions to progress this relationship. As an urgent step, lawmakers should immediately confirm a US ambassador to India.
Secondly, local and national leaders should work to establish an Indian consulate right here in North Texas. Dallas is a wonderfully diverse community whose mayor has offered to make our home a hub for international business. Placing an Indian consulate in Dallas would create a powerful geographical connection between the two countries and would provide substantive value to our city and India. Dallas has the second largest Indian American population in the US, with increasing trade ties to India. We also have an incredibly well-connected airport in DFW International. For these reasons, among others, Dallas needs to be the home of a permanent Indian consulate, and the Indian American CEO Council is willing to begin working with leaders of both countries to make it happen.
The steps outlined above will help India and the United States create a long-lasting diplomatic relationship while also allowing Dallas to become a primary focal point in the strategic partnership. A newly strengthened relationship will pave the way to a brighter future for the citizens of India, the United States and Dallas. Now is the time to take the next step along this journey of alliance and prosperity.
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