Indian Consulate Opened in Atlanta

Friday, 20 January 2012, 01:07 IST
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 Washington:  India opened its new Consulate in Atlanta, the fifth in the US which the Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has termed as "crowing symbol" of dynamic business and cultural connections with the Asian giant. The Consulate, which will serve the approximately 100,000 Indian nationals living in Georgia and roughly 290,000 across the Southeast, is the fifth after New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Huston.

Senior Indian diplomat Ajit Kumar is the first Indian Consul General at the new consulate. In addition to Georgia, the office will serve the states of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as the US Virgin Islands and the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

"This marks a significant milestone in Georgia's international evolution," Deal said. "The Consulate General is the crowning symbol of the dynamic business and cultural connections India shares with our region and state," he said in a statement. The Governor said this was "a proud day for the State of Georgia, whose longtime efforts to locate an Indian Consulate General for the Southeastern United States in Atlanta culminated in the Indian government's 2008 announcement of its intentions".

He said all parties have pressed forward vigorously to realize this purpose despite the worldwide economic crisis. Deal saud the Indian Consulate is "a vital addition" to Atlanta's consular corps and community of trade commissions and bi-national chambers of commerce, which already represents more than 70 other countries and is a key component of Georgia's diversity and international success.

Kumar, who has previously served as the Indian consul general in Frankfurt, and Durban, and as Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, will lead a team of 20 full-time employees.


Source: PTI