India, US expanding cooperation across sectors, says Ambassador Sergio Gor

India and the United States are expanding cooperation across defence, information technology, healthcare and investment, creating significant economic and strategic opportunities for both countries, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Monday.

Speaking at a programme in Kolkata to commemorate 250 years of American Independence, Gor described the bilateral relationship as strong and wide-ranging, pointing to recent military exercises, technological collaboration and investments by companies from both countries.

“India and the US have a great relationship, there’s so much happening; pick any sector and we're working together in it,” he said.

The ambassador also referred to a conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump last week, indicating that further developments in bilateral ties could be expected.

“PM Modi and President Trump spoke just last week; so stay tuned for what comes next,” Gor said, without elaborating on the discussions or specifying any forthcoming announcements.

𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀

Highlighting the expanding defence partnership, Gor referred to recent military exercises involving personnel from both countries.

He said India and the US had conducted exercises involving more than 500 troops during Exercise Tarang Shakti at the Jodhpur Air Force Station in Rajasthan.

The ambassador cited the exercise as an example of the growing engagement between the two countries in the defence sector.

His remarks underscored the importance Washington attaches to military cooperation with New Delhi as part of the broader bilateral relationship.

𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀

Turning to technology and investment, Gor said companies from India and the US were making significant progress through cross-border investments and industrial expansion.

He noted that investments were flowing in both directions, with several American companies establishing large production facilities in India.

“In terms of IT development, incredible things are happening in both directions, with investments in the US and some of our companies opening large production facilities here in India. It is an incredible opportunity,” he said.

The envoy said cooperation in information technology and manufacturing was creating opportunities for businesses in both economies.

His remarks highlighted the increasingly diversified nature of India-US economic engagement, which extends beyond traditional trade to technology development, industrial investment and manufacturing.

𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲

Gor also emphasised India's importance in supplying affordable medicines to the American healthcare system, particularly generic pharmaceuticals.

He said the US imports a substantial quantity of generic medicines from India, reflecting confidence in the country's pharmaceutical industry.

“In healthcare, we import a significant amount of our generic pharmaceuticals from India. This is because we trust India,” the ambassador said.

The statement underscored the importance of pharmaceutical trade as another major component of the bilateral economic relationship.

𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗞𝗼𝗹𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

During his address, Gor also highlighted Kolkata's historical relationship with the United States, recalling diplomatic links dating back more than two centuries.

He noted that George Washington, the first US President, had appointed Benjamin Joy as the first American Consul to Kolkata in 1792.

The ambassador cited the appointment as an early example of the longstanding relationship between the United States and the city.

The programme was organised to mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence, providing an occasion to reflect on the historical ties between the two countries and their expanding contemporary partnership.

West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agarwal were among those present at the event.

Gor's remarks came against the backdrop of continuing high-level engagement between New Delhi and Washington, with both countries pursuing closer cooperation across strategic and economic sectors.

While the ambassador did not disclose details of the recent Modi-Trump conversation, his comments suggested that further bilateral initiatives could be announced in the coming days.