Metro Atlanta soon could become a larger hub for international commerce with India, according to a statement from the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
That was the belief much of the day Friday, a day after Indian ambassador to the U.S. Meera Shankar announced Thursday at Emory University that Atlanta would be the home of the next Indian consulate.
U.S. State Department has informed the Embassy of India that it has no objections to the establishment of an Indian consular post in Atlanta, the state's economic development office said.
“This is excellent news and represents the culmination of several years of hard work by the state of Georgia, the city of Atlanta, the Metro Atlanta Chamber and many others,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “We look forward to working with the Indian government in the weeks and months ahead as they finalize their plans and open for business.”
The state department’s position clears the path following a 2008 meeting between then-president George W. Bush and the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh in Washington, D.C.
Atlanta was selected to host the next Indian consulate, further proof of the city's expanding global reach.
"We're very excited to see a consulate come to Atlanta," said India-born Sonjui Kumar, a partner at Dunwoody law firm Kumar, Prabhu, Patel and Banerjee, a business owned by south Asians.
"It's a big, big win for Georgia, and for Atlanta," said Hans Gant, senior vice president for economic development with the Metro Atlanta Chamber. "Whenever we establish a consulate in Atlanta, it gives us a number of opportunities for strengthening the economic and cultural ties between our area and that country."
And India is a significant win, Gant said. Particularly since Atlanta was up against Seattle for the distinction.
Ash Thakker, board chair of the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, said some important infrastructural centerpieces drew the Indian embassy's attention to Georgia.
"For some of the Indian companies that are trying to settle in the U.S., the Atlanta airport and the port of Savannah are among the logistical facilities that make this area favorable," Thakker said.
Staff writer Kristi Swartz contributed to this report.
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