On Friday, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti inaugurated the United States Consulate in Hyderabad in a celebratory event to commemorate the 247th anniversary of American independence. With the Ambassador, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and US Consul General Jennifer Larson as well as Ausaf Sayeed from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) were in attendance. The event marks Ambassador Garcetti’s first official visit to Hyderabad since taking on the task of representing the United States as Top diplomat in India.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Garcetti stated that it was clear how much the U.S valued the city and its region, its exemplified with the USD 340 million facility. Overall, the consulate is a part of the US-India Strategic Partnership that aims to facilitate closer ties between the two countries.
During the visit, Ambassador Garcetti toured the Chowmahalla Palace, Mitr Transgender Clinic and Y-Axis Foundation. In addition, he joined a lunch at Indian School of Business, and visisted T-Hub’s facility at Raidurg. To wrap up his official trip to Hyderabad, he made time to visit the Charminar and Paigah Tombs. The US Government is providing a quarter of a million dollars to support the conservation and restoration of the six tombs spanning from the 18th to 19th centuries.
Ambassador Garcetti was the 26th to be credentialed in this post by President Droupadi Murmu on May 11, 2023. Before the role, he held the position as Mayor of Los Angeles for 8 years. After winning the election in 2013 as the youngest mayor in the city’s history, Garcetti successfully won the re-election in 2017. During his tenure, the economic growth and opportunity increased, and he also managed to bid for Los Angeles to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028 and followed an aggressive plan to improve health and the environment.
On top of that, the ambassador served as a naval officer in the reserve component for 12 years. Furthermore, he earned a B.A. at Columbia University and his Master’s degree at Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs. He was a Rhodes Scholar at The Queen’s College, Oxford. He is married with one daughter, and a fourth-generation native of Los Angeles along with being an avid pianist and photographer.
As the US Ambassador to India, Garcetti is in an essential role in developing and strengthening the relationship between the two nations. By taking action to bridge gaps and engaging in meaningful conversations, the efforts are underway to increase cooperation between India and the United States.
US ambassador Eric Garcetti is an experienced politician, diplomat, public servant, and advocate for a closer relationship between India and the United States. Armed with a vision for the two countries to become closer allies, Garcetti is leading the charge to ensure that this relationship blossoms. He is a passionate public servant who is dedicated to making positive changes in the world.
