Kushner, Pelosi, Ross, Perry to address India-focused meet in Washington

Washington, July 8

Reflecting the new Indo-US bonhomie, the White House has lined up its top officials, including the all-powerful Jarred Kushner, for an India-centric business conference here this week.

The move comes close on the heels of the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in Japan last month.

The event featuring House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the most powerful Democratic leader, would send an unmistakable signal that Indo-US ties enjoy a strong bipartisan support on the lines of that of the US-Israel relations.

The White House is sending two of its Cabinet ministers, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, for the second annual Leadership Summit of the US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF).

Headquartered in Washington DC, with branches in several US cities and in India, USISPF has emerged as the top India-centric advocacy group in the United States for both corporate sector and strategic community in just a few years.

Observing that Modi’s re-election had given rise to an unprecedented opportunity and commitment to furthering our bilateral ties, USISPF president Mukesh Aghi told PTI that the daylong, July 11 conference would focus on two broad areas, defence and energy security, which are critical to both the countries.

Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, Deputy US Trade Representative Jeffrey Gerrish, and India’s Ambassador to the US, Harsh V Shringla are among the other top speakers to the summit.

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is also senior adviser to the US President, will present the 2019 Global Excellence Awards to Mastercard CEO and president, Ajay Banga, and Wipro Chairman, Azim Premji, in recognition of their significant contributions to strengthening economic ties between the US and India. PTI