Rep. Bera Visits India to Encourage Partnerships with Sacramento Region, Strengthen U.S. - India Relations

Press Release

Today, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. returns from an eight-day visit to India, where he met with business leaders, government officials, policy advocates and innovators in the non-profit sector to increase his understanding of the relationship between the United States and India and to explore opportunities for partnerships in the Sacramento region.

On the trip -- his first to India since taking office -- Bera helped facilitate an agreement between the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the University of California Davis Postharvest Technology Center to collaborate on postharvest technology to reduce food losses due to spoilage. He also secured a pledge from CII to bring a delegation of Indian CEOs and potential investors to Sacramento County in the next year to learn more about potential partnerships and investment opportunities in the region.

"I had a productive trip to India that helped me learn about new ways our countries can grow our economic partnership to benefit both economies and bring new jobs to Sacramento County," said Bera. "Many of the people I met with were interested in the benefits our region provides for companies looking to locate or expand: an abundant and well-educated workforce, world-class research institutions, a world-renowned location for renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency, and lower operational costs than all other major metropolitan areas in California. As the son of parents who immigrated to America from India more than 50 years ago, I was also proud to be able to return to India as a United States Congressman."

Bera, the only Indian American currently serving in Congress, and only the third ever elected, visited the cities of Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore, where he met with business leaders from both American and Indian companies to strengthen the trade relationship between India and the U.S., specifically the Sacramento region, and to encourage investment to bring new jobs to the area. He also discussed the strategic geopolitical relationship between the two countries with high-ranking Indian and U.S. government officials.

Congressman Ami Bera M.D. represents Sacramento County. Born and raised in California, Bera is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He's fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country's debt in a responsible way. A proponent for strengthening United States' strategic and trading relationship with India and Asia, Bera is a member of the House Foreign Affairs committee and is working to open Asian markets to California products to create new jobs. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit http://www.bera.house.gov

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