DALLAS, TX (TIP) : Deputy Secretary of State Richard R. Verma will headline the 25th annual awards banquet of the US India Chamber of Commerce, Dallas-Fort Worth  (USICOC), the organization announced on Tuesday.
The event, which will be held at the Westin Dallas Park Central, on December 10, 2024, will bring together leaders from numerous sectors to celebrate innovation, leadership, and global partnerships, the USICOS said.
“We are honored to announce Deputy Secretary of State Richard R. Verma as the keynote speaker for the 25th Annual USICOC Awards Banquet!,” the chamber said in a message posted on LinkedIn. “With an exceptional career spanning diplomacy, public policy, and private sector leadership, Deputy Secretary Verma has made historic contributions to strengthening U.S. global relations.”
Founded in 1999, as the Greater Dallas Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, the organization supports professional, and business growth as well as the economic development in North Texas.
The founding chairman of the chamber was Indian American businessman Ashok Mago, the CEO and Chairman of Mago & Associates, a business and investment consulting firm based in Dallas.
Verma has previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017 — the first and only Indian American to serve as the head of American missions in India.
During his tenure in New Delhi, Verma strengthened the U.S.-India partnership across various domains, including trade, defense cooperation, technology, and cultural exchanges. His efforts laid the groundwork for the strategic collaboration that continues to thrive today. Additionally, he has served as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs and contributed as a legal advisor on Capitol Hill.
Past speakers of Chamber events include Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Sen. John Cornyn, former Sen.  Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.