India’s ambassador Venkatsan Ashok visited Fresno State on Friday, addressing the technological, economic and health developments between the U.S. and India and their exchanges to seek improvement on a global platform.
Maddy Institute Deputy Director Ana Jovel Melendez said that she was impressed to have a high-profile diplomat visit the Central Valley, saying that it is often overlooked by the rest of the state.
Ashok has held diplomatic assignments in Asia, Europe and America participating in the Ministry of External Affairs in different capacities. He became Consul General of India in San
Francisco in November of 2014, and serves 12 states across the U.S.
Ashok’s speech at the library spoke of Indian economic relations, with merchandise trade between the U.S. and India worth $65 billion, and Indian exports at $40 billion. The United States is India’s largest trading partner, Ashok said, due to trade in services ”” a total of $125 billion.
On the investment relationship, more than 65 Indian large corporations have invested in the U.S., with the U.S. returning $24 billion in investments to India, mainly in telecommunications, computer software, food processing industries and the energy sector, which Ashok said was one of the most important destinations for Indian investment.
“Innovation in California is remarkable,” said Ashok, adding he hopes that India can capitalize on the American example.
He said 700,000 Indian villages need to have solar units to generate electricity in their homes, and hopes that great minds in California and in India can identify technology, adapt to it and modify it to help India generate clean energy.
Economics was not Ashok’s only priority; he also discussed the importance of clean energy. He says that both countries through the Public Private Partnership are addressing the importance of efficient green energy to deter climate change. He said that communication and cooperation between countries is crucial to improving health issues, including placing research for treating diabetes as a priority.
“Twenty six million Americans and 62 million Indians suffer from diabetes,” Ashok said.
People are India’s greatest contribution to the world, he said, and they deserve to be protected.
“Many of them are very successful and have been in the forefront in entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, science, engineering, and medicine,” he said.
Three million Indians live in the U.S. and 1.5 to 2 million in the U.K., Ashok noted, and many graduated from universities in India.
Political Science major Carlos Lopez said that the ambassador seemed very rigorous, and through his talk, Lopez desires to research more of the impacts Ashok has made. Lopez invited students to be more aware of globalization, because it is crucial for the future.
Through the Maddy Institute, Melendez said, knowledge in public policy is promoted. Once she heard that Ashok might be attending, Melendez said she did not hesitate to join the cause of bringing the ambassador of a globally powerful country.
“Embracing a different culture translates to how people think and interact, how ideas spread and develop and how we form relations,” Melendez said. She said that she wanted students to realize the importance of Ashok’s talk ”” to extend a hand of friendship and form a relationship with Fresno State and the community.
The event culminated at the Peace Garden with a flower offering at the Gandhimemorial.
“The Indian-U.S. relationship is as good as it has been in years, and we want it to continue,” said Representative Jim Costa. “Making the Peace Garden your first stop in Fresno is symbolic and appropriate.”