Ambassador Nirupama Rao met Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, on July 16, 2012 at the Governor's office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  The meeting was very cordial, positive and forward looking.

Governor Jindal complimented the rapid growth of India and said that the Indian and US economies are complementary to each other particularly because of the strong fundamentals and impressive growth of the Indian economy in all fields.  Both India and the United States have not only common strategic interests but also coinciding values of pluralism, democracy, free market economy and inclusiveness in growth.  He spoke of the commitment both the countries have in the practice of democracy that leads to stability and predictability for the future.  India has been “a constant friend” of the United States, he said.  These values and capacities provide significant opportunities for further deepening of relations and to build on this friendship between the two countries. 

Ambassador Rao discussed with Governor Jindal the potential for cooperation between India and the State of Louisiana in the fields of Education including faculty/student exchanges and community colleges, energy including Natural Gas and Shale Gas, medical science and pharmaceuticals including vaccine development, infrastructure development, manufacturing including in the automotive sector and Agriculture.  The discussion also covered the complementarities between the two countries that help each other's economy through innovation, skilled manpower, joint development of technology, investment by leading companies in each other's market and sharing of best practices, which provides a win-win situation to cooperate further for mutual benefit.

Ambassador Rao extended an invitation to Governor Jindal to visit India either during the Pravasiya Bharati Divas or at a time convenient to both sides. She said he would be warmly welcomed in India.  The Governor said he looks forward keenly to visiting India at an early opportunity.
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