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New host: The First US Consul-General, Mr Cornelis Kewr, addressing the ceremonial opening of the Consulate office in Hyderabad on Friday. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the US Ambassador to India, Mr David C. Mulford, and his wife are also seen.

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, Oct 24 The US has opened its Consulate-General in Hyderabad at the Paigah Palace on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, the US Ambassador to India, Mr David C. Mulford, said, “The signing of the civilian nuclear deal is just one in the growing strategic partnership between the US and India as it continues to expand.

“The US mission in India is the largest that our Government has in the world outside of the mission in Iraq.”

“But when we selected Hyderabad, to be the host city for our new Consulate-General we did so in clear recognition of its importance as a major social, political and commercial centre.

“The city has a broad and diverse economy and in addition to the diverse IT sector, the corporate community includes companies in the life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and hitech,” Mr Mulford said.

By mid-December, the Consular Section is expected to begin operations processing 100 visa applicants a day and will be scaled up to 300 by January.

“The opening of the Consulate-General will mean that people from the State will no longer be required to travel to Chennai or Delhi for consular services,” Mr Mulford said.

Additionally, the Consulate-General will also provide passport and citizenship services to American citizens residing in the State and also have public diplomacy offerings. It will have 16 visa windows.

Later, speaking to the media, Mr Mulford said that outsourcing was a sensitive issue and does not see it reducing unless there is a major change in the economy.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said with the opening of the office, around 65,000-70,000 trips from Hyderabad to Chennai every year will be saved.

More Stories on : Events | Travel & Places | Foreign Relations | Andhra Pradesh

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