Call on consulate in B’luru after US prez poll, says envoy

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The United States (US) ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said that a decision would be taken on the establishment of a consulate in Bengaluru after the American Presidential election in November. Garcetti made the comments when Karnataka Information Technology and Bio-Technology (IT-BT) Minister Priyank Kharge called on him in New Delhi on Thursday. Kharge formally sought establishment of a US Consulate in Bengaluru, while presenting a letter from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asking for the same. Kharge said that Garcetti “expressed a positive outlook regarding the establishment of a consulate”.

Kharge made a case for a US Consulate in Bengaluru, citing the city's thriving business environment and the frequent travel of residents for visa services to Chennai and Hyderabad. “With a significant number of students and tech professionals from Bengaluru visiting the US, a local consulate would expedite visa processing and greatly benefit the tech community,” Kharge said Kharge also US semiconductor companies to set up shop in Bengaluru.