Gandhinagar, Jan 12 (NDTV): US Secretary of State John Kerry today said he was impressed with "palpable entrepreneurial interest" he had seen in the people of Gujarat during his visit to the state and added, "PM Modi made his reputation here in Gujarat. If that can be extrapolated to the rest of India and dealing with all countries, we all benefit."
Addressing a press conference at the Vibrant Gujarat summit this morning, Mr Kerry was referring to Mr Modi's stint as Gujarat chief minister, during which he is credited with turning the state into an economic powerhouse.
It was also a stint during which the US denied Mr Modi visa over the 2002 riots in Gujarat under his watch. Since he became Prime Minister in May last year, however, Mr Modi has multiple interactions with senior US officials and also visited the country in September.
Mr Kerry noted in his speech that he has met Mr Modi "three times in the last six months." He said during their discussions, they reviewed the relationship between the two countries and said he was convinced that India and the US "will create a healthier, more secure and prosperous future."
"We are all invested in this relationship because we recognise what this offers to us, and also what it demands of us," Mr Kerry said, adding that India and the US are working together to strengthen maritime security and anti-terrorism measures.
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US companies, said the US Secretary of State, were showing keen business in doing business in India.
Mr Kerry has travelled to India ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit as the chief guest at the January 26 Republic Day celebrations.
Among the items that top the agenda of the secretary of state is to try and break down what US companies view as barriers.
These include the challenges of local content requirements and patent enforcement as well as liability protections for companies that hope to build nuclear power plants for Indian's burgeoning need for electricity.
"The PM has a very ambitious plan that every home in India will have 24-hour electricity and we hope we can do a great deal to help with that," Mr Kerry said today.
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