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WASHINGTON, D.C. /eNewsChannels/ — The U.S. Department of State, in cooperation with the Indian American Leadership Council and the American India Foundation, will hold the U.S.-India People to People Conference in the Department’s Loy Henderson Auditorium October 28, 2010 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. In anticipation of President Obama’s visit to India, this event seeks to highlight the crucial role of Indian Americans in the ever-strengthening U.S.-India relationship.

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah will deliver the keynote address at 1:30 p.m. Administrator Shah’s remarks will be open to credentialed members of the media.

Pre-set time for video cameras: 11:30 a.m. from 23rd Street Entrance.
Final access time for writers and still photographers: 1:10 p.m. from 23rd Street Entrance.

This event will bring together high-level U.S. government officials, leaders of the Indian-American diaspora, academics, and private sector leaders to discuss topics related to the pillars of the U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue: renewable energy, global health, education, and economic empowerment. This conference highlights the importance of people-to-people ties in 21st century diplomacy and the vast contributions Indian Americans have made to the U.S.-India relationship. The conference is designed to identify novel ways in which the diaspora community’s talents can be applied in the areas of global health, renewable energy, education, and economic empowerment.

The program will consist of four panel discussion sessions with senior U.S. government officials, subject matter experts, and grassroots diaspora on renewable energy, global health, education and economic empowerment. The event will close with remarks by Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar.

President Obama and Secretary Clinton have repeatedly stressed the breadth and depth of the indispensable U.S.-Indian partnership. The People to People Conference represents the shared belief of the United States and India that through a multitude of people-to-people connections between our two countries, the U.S.-India partnership will continue to flourish.