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Washington, DC
October 19, 2005


Ambassador Sen inaugurated ‘India Year’ at the Des Moines Area Community College on October 14, following a proclamation read out and handed over to him by Governor Tom Vislack. Others who spoke on the occasion were the College President, Dr. Robert Denson, Congressman Jim Leach, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Asia in the House International Relations Committee, Iowa State Representative Swati Dandekar, and the main coordinator and initiator of the India Year, Dr. Reggie Sinha. 

Congressman Leach, in his remarks, had called for US support for India’s inclusion as Permanent Member of UN Security Council without further delay.

The launching of the India Year was marked by the screening of the moving film “Mystic India” produced by BAPS at the IMAX theatre of the Science Centre of Iowa, and also by a food festival and other events.

During an earlier call on him at the State Capitol, Ambassador Sen invited Governor Vilsack to visit India. Sen also had detailed discussions with Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug and with the President and scientists at the Iowa State University on implementation of the India-US Knowledge Initiative on Agriculture. Sen had earlier discussions in this regard with the Chairman and CEO of Cargill, Warren Staley, and the Chairman and CEO of Monsanto, Hugh Grant, on the establishment of commercial linkages on the Agriculture Initiative. During his visit to Des Moines, Sen also had talks with the Chairman and CEO of Principal Financial Group, Dr. J. Barry Griswell, on expanding the company’s business operations in India.