There is tremendous business opportunity between India and Alabama, Indian envoy to the US has said during a rare visit to the country's southeastern state which is India's 10th largest trading partner.
"It is clear that we already have good areas of cooperation. There is investment and engagement by companies based here in India through production in India, sales to India; through service sector relationships, getting design work related to some of the products done in India," Ambassador Arun K Singh said yesterday.
"We are very good in India now in services, design-related work in the IT sector," Singh said during his rare address to the Alabama State Senate.
The top Alabamian leadership welcomed Singh's rare visit aimed at giving a big push for the state's relationship with India particularly in trade ties.
Among others, Singh met Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and Lieutenant General Steven L Kwast.
He visited the University of Alabama at Birmingham, toured Innovation Depot and spoke with the Alabama India Business Partnership. Singh told Alabama News Center it was his visit to Innovation Depot that really impressed him and made it obvious where some of the greatest opportunities exist.
"With all of the energy here in the innovation domain, the opportunity for partnership with India in innovation is going to be tremendous because the US remains the world leader in innovation, including in digital technology," Singh was quoted as saying by Alabama News Centre.
"We have found, based on our experience that Indian companies, Indian-origin tech entrepreneurs, Indian-origin tech workers are an integral part of the US being part of the world leader in innovation in these areas," he said.
"International business development in Alabama, including both investment and trade, continues to grow and the importance of strong diplomatic relationships with the countries we do business with is also growing," Brian Hilson, president and CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, said.
"India is now Alabama's 10th largest export market and direct investment from Indian companies is increasing," Hilson added.
