GUWAHATI, Dec 14 � The US Mission in India will act as a facilitator in building business and commercial ties between North East India and the US, said US Ambassador to India, Nancy Jo Powell while interacting with select media persons here today.
Referring to the emerging prospects for US and Indian entities, she said that infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, and IT fall within the ambit of mutual interest. An American Business Corner has been recently established in the city to increase awareness in this regard among local entrepreneurs.
Even though it is up to the American business entities to decide on their initiatives, the US Government will be supportive to their counterparts here which want to develop links with their American counterparts.
A high level team from the US embassy met with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who had kept ready a competent team to carry out a dialogue with the visiting officials.
The senior diplomat, who is well acquainted with India from previous assignments, said that the official US position on Arunachal Pradesh remains unaltered. The US recognises the McMahon line as the boundary between India and China, a point also reiterated by Dean R Thompson, Consul General of the USA based in Kolkata.
Ambassador Powell spoke in some detail about the conservation of biodiversity in the North East of India, stating that agencies such as the US Fish and Wildlife Service have already been working in the region, and such assistance will be sustained. US organizations have helped build the capacity of local NGOs which are now carrying out a range of activities.
Asked about purported violations of human rights in parts of the North East, Powell was circumspect, stating that a process of dialogue was on, and armed forces personnel from the two countries were engaging with one another on the issue.
The Ambassador and the Consul General both revealed that at present there are no travel restrictions on American tourists to travel to Assam.
