US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Monday stated that India and the United States are broadening cooperation in multiple areas such as defence, information technology and healthcare, with investments and joint efforts generating substantial opportunities for both nations. He made the remarks while speaking at an event in Kolkata marking 250 years of America’s Independence, where he pointed to recent military exercises, defence collaboration and cross-border investments by companies from the two countries.

Gor described the bilateral relationship as strong and active across various fields. “India and the US have a great relationship, there’s so much happening; pick any sector and we’re working together in it,” he said. In the defence domain, he noted that the two countries had carried out military exercises involving more than 500 troops as part of Exercise Tarang Shakti at the Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan.

Turning to technology and investment, the ambassador observed that firms from both sides were advancing, with capital moving in both directions and certain American companies establishing large production facilities in India. “In terms of IT development, incredible things are happening in both directions, with investments in the US and some of our companies opening large production facilities here in India. It is an incredible opportunity,” Gor said.

He also stressed India’s role in healthcare, especially as a supplier of generic medicines to the United States. “In healthcare, we import a significant amount of our generic pharmaceuticals from India. This is because we trust India,” he asserted. Gor added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump had spoken the previous week and indicated further progress could follow. “PM Modi and President Trump spoke just last week; so stay tuned for what comes next,” he said.

The envoy further recalled historical links between Kolkata and the United States, noting that former president George Washington had appointed Benjamin Joy as the first American Consul to the city in 1792. West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal attended the programme.

(PTI)