In her first visit to Georgia, after assuming responsibility as Ambassador of India to the US, Ambassador Nirupama Rao visited Emory University, met Congressmen from Georgia, visited the King Center, attended a welcome reception by the Indian-American community and gave several interviews to the local media. 

On March 2, at a business meeting of senior business executives at the United Parcel Service (UPS), organized by the Kettering Executive Network (KEN) and supported by the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE), Ambassador delivered a lecture on ‘Indo-US Commercial Engagements’.  The Mayor of Sandy Springs, Dr. Eva Galambos presented the Key to the City to the Ambassador.  Earlier, she met with the top management of UPS.

Ambassador Rao met the Provost of Emory University, Dr. Earl Lewis, and other faculty members.  She delivered the Keynote Address at the prestigious India Summit on ‘India-US Strategic Relations’ focusing on the role of innovation and science and technology.  At a dinner reception in her honour at the Emory University, she met with students, Atlanta business and community leaders, summit moderators, speakers, panelists and organizers.

On March 3, Ambassador Rao paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King at a public reception at the King Center. She garlanded the Gandhi statue and toured the Visitor’s Center and laid wreaths at the crypts of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. 

The same afternoon, Ambassador Rao met Congressman Thomas E. Price and Congressman Hank Johnson and exchanged views on several issues of bilateral, regional and global interest from the perspective of the India-U.S. partnership.

On the evening of March 3, the Indian-American community, represented by over 80 organizations in Greater Atlanta, held a very well-attended welcome banquet in honour of Ambassador Rao.