GANDHINAGAR: The state government has asked the central government to request US to set up a consulate in Gujarat.
This has been a long pending demand of the state considering the high number of Gujaratis settled in the US.
Gujaratis are one of the largest sub-groups of the Indian diaspora in the US and large numbers of people from the state who are seeking US visas currently have to travel to Mumbai.
A senior official in the state government said that although the Gujarat government is yet to receive formal instructions from Centre about President Trump’s Gujarat visit, security, logistics and other preparations for it have begun. “The state government requested the Centre to ask the US government to consider the long-pending demand of the Gujarati community for a US consulate and visa centre in Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar, so residents of Gujarat do not have to travel to Mumbai for visas.”
The official added that a large number of visa applicants are senior citizens who visit the US often to meet family members.
“If Gujarat gets a consulate and visa centre, it will also boost support for the Trump administration among the Gujarati diaspora,” the source said.
The US presently has consulates in New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Applicants for US visa aspirants from Gujarat, Diu, Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have to travel to Mumbai.
Prafull Nayak, president (India), Association of Indian Americans in the North America (AIANA) said, “The Gujarati community in the US has always been in support of the Trump administration. President Trump’s family had extended its support to organizing the ‘Chalo Gujarat’ event when it was first started in 2008.”
He added that the Gujarati community – both in India and in the US – have been requesting the US government to open a consulate and visa centre either in Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar.
“A number of investors from US regularly visit Gujarat and the people of Gujarat have also been exploring business opportunities in the US. If such a facility comes up in Gujarat, it will be a win-win situation for both parties,” he said.
AIANA had earlier taken up a signature campaign, seeking a US consulate in Gujarat, which was endorsed by more than 8,000 Gujaratis living in the US.
“We request the Centre to take up the issue with President Trump during his Ahmedabad and India visit. It will further cement ties between the two countries,’’ Nayak added.
This has been a long pending demand of the state considering the high number of Gujaratis settled in the US.
Gujaratis are one of the largest sub-groups of the Indian diaspora in the US and large numbers of people from the state who are seeking US visas currently have to travel to Mumbai.
A senior official in the state government said that although the Gujarat government is yet to receive formal instructions from Centre about President Trump’s Gujarat visit, security, logistics and other preparations for it have begun. “The state government requested the Centre to ask the US government to consider the long-pending demand of the Gujarati community for a US consulate and visa centre in Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar, so residents of Gujarat do not have to travel to Mumbai for visas.”
The official added that a large number of visa applicants are senior citizens who visit the US often to meet family members.
“If Gujarat gets a consulate and visa centre, it will also boost support for the Trump administration among the Gujarati diaspora,” the source said.
The US presently has consulates in New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. Applicants for US visa aspirants from Gujarat, Diu, Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have to travel to Mumbai.
Prafull Nayak, president (India), Association of Indian Americans in the North America (AIANA) said, “The Gujarati community in the US has always been in support of the Trump administration. President Trump’s family had extended its support to organizing the ‘Chalo Gujarat’ event when it was first started in 2008.”
He added that the Gujarati community – both in India and in the US – have been requesting the US government to open a consulate and visa centre either in Ahmedabad or Gandhinagar.
“A number of investors from US regularly visit Gujarat and the people of Gujarat have also been exploring business opportunities in the US. If such a facility comes up in Gujarat, it will be a win-win situation for both parties,” he said.
AIANA had earlier taken up a signature campaign, seeking a US consulate in Gujarat, which was endorsed by more than 8,000 Gujaratis living in the US.
“We request the Centre to take up the issue with President Trump during his Ahmedabad and India visit. It will further cement ties between the two countries,’’ Nayak added.
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