WASHINGTON (TIP): Describing Silicon Valley as the best regional partner of India in the social innovation arena, India’s Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla expressed hope that more VC funding from Silicon Valley will go to India that are vital for the next phase of India’s development.

During a short but productive visit to San Francisco June 21, Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla, accompanied by Consul General Sanjay Panda, released the ‘Bay Area – Silicon Valley and India: Convergence and Alignment in the Innovation Age’ India Report. For the first time, the Bay Area Council of San Francisco launched a special focus Report on India.

“As the report suggests, India’s third wave of venture capital investment shows maturity with US-based firms now steadying their local presence with dedicated India funds and shifting decision-making to local partners. A whole new breed of 10 Indian start-ups has become unicorns in 2018. This should interest more VC funding from Silicon Valley”, said the Ambassador.

“India offers further opportunities for Silicon Valley companies in healthcare and life sciences, energy, IT, Smart Cities, Fintech, Telecom, Semiconductors and AI, as the report rightly identifies. Products and services that use AI for social innovation – applications in agriculture, irrigation, drinking water, education, life sciences, etc, are vital for the next phase of India’s development. There isn’t a better regional partner than Silicon Valley for us in this arena”, he further added.

Earlier Ambassador Shringla met Governor of California Gavin Newsom and Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis. Ambassador also invited the Governor to lead the International Yoga Day 2019 event at Sacramento organized by Consulate General of India, San Francisco. Governor Newsome agreed to schedule a visit to India as early as possible and was appreciative of the growing popularity of yoga in USA. The Governor agreed to consider leading a business delegation to India to expand the India-California partnership. Ambassador thanked the Governor for his strong support for India-US ties.

The Ambassador spoke on “Economic Prosperity in the Pacific” at the Pacific Summit of the Bay Area Council. At a Panel Discussion with Lt Governor Eleni Koulanakis, he highlighted how India has been a positive and stabilizing partner of the US in South Asia and Indo-Pacific region. “India and the US have formed a robust dialogue with each other and other partners to secure a peaceful, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific. We are working very well with the U.S. side to make a success of our Indo-Pacific vision and strategy. The launch of India-US-Japan Summit-level Trilateral during 2017 and regular official meetings of the Quadrilateral with Japan and Australia have been a positive development” he said.

Later, at a function hosted by CG Sanjay Panda in San Francisco, Ambassador Shringla paid tribute to the martyrs of the anti-colonial Gadar Movement and addressed members of the Indian community at the Gadar Memorial. “The voice of the Gadar Party and movement is one of sacrifice and justice. Gadri Babas dedicated their lives to the cause of India. To ensure that the voice does not fade from our memories, the Government of India has embarked on a restoration project. The project will restore this building’s original facade from the early 1900s. Inside, we will have a museum and a community hall, as well as spaces for books and artefacts from the Gadar period. We will also dedicate space for research scholars of the future who can study the writings of these brave men”, he assured.

During the visit, Ambassador Shringla also met healthcare industry leader Bob Ingram and interacted with the California based media.