Washington, USA: Indian cuisine has made its mark globally, with dishes such as Murgh Makhani and Hyderabadi Biryani earning international recognition, and Indian restaurants receiving prestigious Michelin stars.

The Indian diaspora in the United States has seen remarkable growth, reaching over five million in 2023, compared to just 1.9 million in 2000. This thriving community plays a vital role in strengthening US-India relations, contributing to areas like trade, cultural exchange, and innovation.

At an event held at the US State Department, Deputy Secretary of State Richard R. Verma highlighted the significant impact of the Indian-American community. Verma pointed out that 130 Indian-Americans hold senior positions in the Biden-Harris Administration, demonstrating their influence.

Entrepreneurship within the Indian diaspora also thrives, with 20% of American unicorn startups having Indian immigrants as their founders or co-founders. In academia, nearly 300 exchange programs link top Indian universities to 205 US institutions, fostering innovation and collaboration.

Verma, who previously served as the US Ambassador to India, emphasized the strong and growing partnership between the US and India, particularly in trade, defense, education, and culture. Bilateral trade has surged from $20 billion in 2000 to $195 billion in 2023, with expectations to surpass $200 billion in 2024.

Defense trade between the two nations has also seen an extraordinary increase, from zero in 2000 to $24 billion in 2024. Verma highlighted India as the US’s primary military partner in 2024, noting joint exercises like Malabar (naval), Yudh Abhyas (Army), Cope India (Air Force), Vajra Prahar (counter-terrorism), and Tiger Triumph (amphibious).

The number of Indian students in the US has also grown dramatically, from 54,664 in 2000 to 331,600 in 2023.

In terms of consular engagement, the US Mission in India issued over one million visas in 2023, underscoring the deepening ties between the two countries. With new consulates planned in Boston, Los Angeles, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad, the diplomatic presence continues to expand.

Verma took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the US-India partnership and thanked Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, for attending the event.