CM HDK urges US to open consulate in state’s capital city

Team Udayavani, Jun 1, 2018, 10:45 AM IST

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday asked the US to open its consulate in this tech city. 

“The US should open its consulate in Bengaluru at the earliest to facilitate, in addition to other things, allowing of its visas to the residents of our state,” Kumaraswamy disclosed to US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster who approached him here. 

The US has consulates in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Hyderabad other than its international safe haven in New Delhi yet not in India’s silicon city. 

“The Chief Minister has guaranteed Juster infrastructure, including land, building and support system to empower the US set up a department in the city, which has the biggest number of American firms,” said the Chief Minister’s office in an announcement. 

Alluding to the warm and long-standing relations amongst Karnataka and the US, the Chief Minister told the US emissary that several Kannadigas were working at top positions in the US and a developing number of subjects from over the state visit America as visitors as the year progressed. 

“A consulate with offices to process and issue visas will assist our people with saving time, vitality and cost as the majority of them go to Chennai or Hyderabad for visa meetings and collecting their passports or travel documents,” the announcement said. 

Reacting to the Chief Minister’s plea, Juster said he would pass on the state’s demand to the US Administration for setting up a consulate in Bengaluru soon. 

“Around 370 US organizations work from Bengaluru and contribute altogether to the state’s economy. They, confront infrastructure issues in the city, which should be addressed,” Juster told Kumaraswamy. 

The Chief Minister coordinated the authorities to meet the heads of US firms and resolve the issues at the earliest. 

Chennai-based US Consul General Robert G. Burgess, US Economic Officer Joseph Bernath and US Public Affairs Officer Lauren Lovelace took an interest in the meeting Juster had with Kumaraswamy at the state secretariat.