· The Governor Was Pleasantly Surprised to Hear the American CG Speaking Tamil
By Mewati Sitaram
His Excellency Mike Hankey, Consul General of the United States in Mumbai, met with Governor of Maharashtra CP Radhakrishnan at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai on August 13, 2024. As Per the Official Communiqué from Raj Bhavan.
During the meeting, several key topics were discussed, including Bilateral Economic and Political Cooperation, Trade and Investment, University Cooperation and Skill Development. These discussions aimed to strengthen the partnership between Maharashtra and the United States across multiple sectors.
H.E. Mike Hankey surprised Governor Radhakrishnan by beginning their conversation in Tamil. Hankey explained that he had spent a year studying in Tamil Nadu 30 years ago as part of a student exchange program, during which he learned Tamil. This thoughtful gesture added a personal touch to their meeting and highlighted his long-standing connection with India.
Consul General Mike Hankey emphasized that the US Consulate in Mumbai is one of the largest consulates globally. He noted that last year, the consulate issued the highest number of student visas to Indian students compared to any other location. Additionally, he mentioned that a meeting was organized last year between the Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra universities and representatives from American universities. This meeting aimed to enhance cooperation and strengthen partnerships between universities in Maharashtra and those in the United States.
Consul General highlighted that in the area of skill development, efforts are underway in collaboration with ITI (Industrial Training Institutes) and State Skill Universities in the U.S. He also pointed out that the US is actively investing in various sectors in India through the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). These investments focus on Women Entrepreneurship, Agriculture and Food Processing, Healthcare and Clean Energy. These initiatives reflect a broad commitment to fostering economic development and cooperation between the US and India.
During the meeting, the Governor welcomed the American CG and emphasized the importance of increasing cooperation between state universities and American universities. He advocated for enhanced student exchange programs as well as exchanges of experts and faculty to foster deeper academic and research collaborations. Additionally, Governor Radhakrishnan expressed his hope that the United States would boost its investments in India, particularly in the sectors like Solar Energy, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Textile Industry. These statements underscore the Governor’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and promoting joint ventures in key areas of economic and technological development.
At the meeting, Richa Bhala, the Head of Political Economy at the US Consulate, Political Officer Ryan Mullen, and Political Advisor Priyanka Visaria-Nayak were also in attendance. Their presence added depth to the discussions on political and economic cooperation between the US and Maharashtra.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
