Nikki Haley spreads welcome mat for Indian companies

Washington, March 7, 2012:

Keen to expand trade contacts with India, South Carolina's Indian American governor Nikki Haley has assured Indian companies the required infrastructural assistance to establish themselves in the state.

. Born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa to Sikh immigrant parents, the first Indian American governor of a US State held out the assurance to the Indian ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao during a recent visit to South Carolina.

Rao, according to the Indian Embassay had extensive discussions with Haley and South Carolina Commerce Secretary Robert Hitt.

The Governor also expressed her willingness to host any Indian business delegation visiting the US for consultations.

Praisung the role of the Indian American community in promoting India-US relations, Haley said she was keen to expand trade contacts with India.

South Carolina has a business-friendly atmosphere Haley said pointing to the existence of major industries like the BMW, Boeing, Michelin, a well developed Information Technology sector and Research and Development Centres, renowned Institutes of Higher Education and a major port like the Charleston Port.

Rao in turn also expressed a desire to expand ties between India and South Carolina and said India would like to avail of the experience of the State in the field of infrastructure development, education and research & development.

Informing Haley of her popularity in India, she invited the Governor to visit India, which could pave way for Indian businesses, which are already established in 43 US States, to also look at South Carolina as an investment and business destination.

According yo US commerce department figures, US imports from India via South Carolina grew by 47.157 percent from $ 557 million during the year 2010 to $ 820 million during the year 2011. India ranks 9th in terms of US imports from different countries through South Carolina.

Exports from South Carolina to India grew by 26.19 percent from $ 491 million during the year 2010 to $ 619 million during the year 2011. India ranks as 7th largest destination of US exports through South Carolina.

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South Carolina want to partner with India: Nikki Haley

Washington, March 2, 2012: Proud of her Indian heritage, South Carolina's Indian American governor Nikki Haley says she wanted an opportunity to partner with India, since becoming chief executive, and now those talks are underway.

."As I became governor, what I saw was an opportunity - it's an opportunity to partner with a country that continues to be strong when it comes to jobs and...in innovation," Haley told reporters in the state capital Columbia Wednesday after a meeting with visiting Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao.

"And so what I've asked is, 'how do we get Indian companies to come and do business in South Carolina?' I talked to the ambassador, and we are going to continue to talk."

Rao, who has been visiting South Carolina, said "I am exceptionally happy to be here."

"In the last two days, I've been to Charleston, and I've been here in Columbia, and I've had discussions with Governor Haley and her team. We've looked at the ways to cement better relations between India and South Carolina.

"There are immense possibilities because this is really in many senses a time of awakening when it comes to India-US relations.

"We have a number of Indian companies that do business in the United States, that have invested here, and what I'm going to try to do is to see that we have Indian companies come to South Carolina. "

"South Carolina provides a very conducive environment for foreign investment and which is what Indian companies would look to," Rao said.

Praising Haley as epitomizing the achievements of Indian Americans in the US, she said: ""She (Haley) is a star back home. We love her for achievements.

In many ways, she epitomizes the achievements of the Indian American community in this country; all that they have done to make America proud and to make India proud."

Born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa to Sikh immigrant parents, Haley is the first Indian American woman and the second Indian American governor of a US State after Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. Both are from the Republican Party.