India- US Climate Change Mitigation to Help Create Well-Paying Green Jobs, Says Jorgan K. Andrews

Addressing the 21st Indo-US Economic Summit organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) on September 24, 2024, the top US Embassy official noted that the India-US relationship is getting deeper and wider from all aspects. Highlighting the need to curb climate change, he said that if not resolved, climate change would have a significant impact on the collective prosperity of both countries. The theme of the 21st economic summit held in the national capital is 'Building Bridges, Shaping Futures: Pioneering Pathways for 21st Century Growth'.

"The impact on our collective prosperity if we do not solve these climate change problems together is profound. Together, I think we are doing some amazing things both at the government level and in private sector to reduce emissions to help India find a path for growth and development that does not overly exacerbate global climatic challenges also, these changes would create the well-paying green jobs that I know we would all like to see," said Jorgan K. Andrews, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy.

Observing the fast pace of growth in bilateral ties, he said that the strengthening and robust ties have provided "tremendous benefit" for people in both countries. The statement comes close on the heels of the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi US President Joe Biden last week in the US on the sidelines of the QUAD Summit.

Andrews further informed that the India-US Commercial Dialogue and the CEOs forum would be held next week in the US with the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and the US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo co-chairing the meetings.

"Next week the Minister of Commerce and Industry Goyal will be in Washington and he'll have a chance to meet with his counterpart Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Together they will co-chair the US, India commercial dialogue, and CEO forum. This is another one of these crucial links between government and industry that helps us build-out," he said.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the summit, Dr. Abhay Sinha, Director General, the Services Export Promotion Council said that trade with US comprises a significant portion of India's overall services exports worth about $350 billion. He was of the view that going efforts should be made to develop synergy and create opportunities in services and manufacturing sectors in the US market for Indian businesses.

Dr. Lalit Bhasin, Summit Chair & Immediate Past National President, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce cited the latest round of agreements between both the countries last week said that the robust bilateral cooperation and mutual support can be gauged from the media reports on the number of pacts signed between both the countries, which ensure a continued strengthening of the ties.

"Whosoever wins the November (US) election, the Indo-US election will continue to grow stronger and stronger," Dr Bhasin said.

Awanish Kumar Awasthi, IAS (Retd), Advisor to the Chief Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh noted that the state provides one of the best business environments in the country with a robust implementation of the rule of law. Inviting global investors to Uttar Pradesh, Awasthi said that it is one of the most investor-friendly state with a clear and attractive foreign direct investment (FDI) policy.

Other speakers at the inaugural session include Dr Atul Chauhan, Regional Council Member, IACC & Chancellor, Amity University; Dr. Upasana Arora, Executive Council Member, IACC & Managing Director, Yashoda Super Specialty Hospitals and Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman & Managing Director of UFlex Limited.

During the session, the 8th Business Leadership Awards were presented with Dr Lalit Khaitan, Chairman & Managing Director of Radico Khaitan Ltd being awarded the 'Business Leader of the Century' award. Other awardees include Sunanda Singhania, Executive Director, PSRI Hospital (Business Excellence Award in the Healthcare sector), Ashok Chaturvedi, Chairman & Managing Director, UFlex Group (Business Leader of the Decade), among others.