'Passport to India' programme to send more US students to India

WASHINGTON: The United States has come out with a "Passport to India" programme to encourage more and more American students to go to India for studies.

A public-private initiative, the programme is part of the US efforts to increase people to people relationship and build on next generation of leadership who are well versed in each other's culture.

"The goal of Passport to India is to significantly increase the number of Americans who visit India for a study and learning experience abroad. The most recent data showed that while nearly 104,000 Indians study here in the United States, fewer than 4,000 Americans study in India," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake said.

However, that number is far too low, Blake conceded in his remarks at an event organised by US-India World Affairs Institute in association with the Asia Society and East West Centre.

"Indian students in American communities and American students in Indian communities create the friendships and linkages we are working to build. Secretary (of State, Hillary) Clinton and I see expanding opportunities for American students in India as a major investment in three key areas," he said.

"It's an investment in US-India relations, it's an investment in the American and global economies and it is an investment in our young people so they have the skills and experience they need to succeed in their professional lives.

"For our rising generation to be globally competitive, they must know and understand India," Blake said.

"The Passport to India initiative is a public-private partnership. To date, we have pledges from both US and Indian private entities to support 225 internship opportunities for American students over the next 3 years in India-based organisations and we are working hard to generate more," he said.

Blake said that Interns will work side by side with their Indian peers to work on software development in IT companies, on innovation and management practices in manufacturing firms and on the needs of the marginalised and underserved with local NGOs.

"It all comes down to one thing: By building the next generation of leaders who are well versed in each other's culture, language and business, we will be better prepared to work together and resolve common challenges for the benefit of not only our two countries, but for the international community as well," he said.

"All of you have already done so much to support the collaborations between Americans and Indians from which ideas come to life. You know the United States and you know India and you know the limitless potential that exists when we get together.

"Last month in New Delhi, Secretary Clinton re-emphasised that the United States and India are "two great democracies with common values and increasingly convergent interests," Blake said in his remarks.

5 June 2012

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