US Consul General (Kolkata) Helen LaFave today expressed her willingness to conduct exchange programmes between the universities of US and India.
"There is no sector that better illustrates the mutual benefit of our relationship than education, a priority sector for both the US and India. Education is one of the main pillars in our bilateral strategic partnership," she said while addressing a press conference here this evening.
"The commitment by both our governments to collaborate on higher education underscores our shared belief that education is the lynchpin of entrepreneurship and innovation, that will drive our knowledge economies and growth and help us meet new challenges," she pointed out.
LaFave, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit to get first-hand information on the state, today visited the state museum here and later interacted with the students and faculty of Rajiv Gandhi University.
"We want more students from America and India to study in universities of both the countries for gaining knowledge," she said adding, dialogue on higher education between India and USA would be held at New Delhi soon, which is an outcome of the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barak Obama during Modi's visit to the US.
When asked whether she was interested to project Arunachal as a potential investment destination to the US investors, she emphatically said she would like to share information on the state to business houses in USA if they want it.
The Consul General yesterday called on Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma and Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and discussed various issues pertaining to mutual interests and mutual benefits besides discussing scope for Indo-US socio-economic initiatives.
She also met with alumni of US State department funded exchange programmes, who introduced her to the rich traditions of Arunachal Pradesh.
