New Delhi: Noting that there were "challenges" that needed to be overcome to further strengthen ties between India and US, Congressperson Tulsi Gabbard on Saturday said both the nations have a great opportunity to work together in various sectors and "intentions and hearts" were moving in the right direction.
Gabbard, a member of the US House of Representative, said that terrorism was one of the key issues likely to be discussed between between the two nations during US President Barack Obama's visit to India, apart from deliberations on cooperation in sectors like technology and renewable energy.
"There is great excitement and opportunity that's being felt on the ground both in US and India and I think we are headed in the right direction.
"There are definitely some challenges that will have to be overcome but the intention and heart is moving in the right place. There is great opportunity for both of us in many areas from security to economy and many other things that we can do together," Gabbard said after delivering her address on "The Future of Indo-US Relationships" organised by India Foundation.
She said that President Obama's visit to India is "historic" in different ways and it will send a strong message about the "seriousness" of the partnership between the two countries.
"There is a very deep concern about the threat that terrorism poses not only to our two countries but to the world. This would be at the foremost of discussion. There is a great opportunity that lies in the area of technology...Of growing our shared economies as well as in the area of renewable energy. The list goes on and on," she said.
She said that during her present visit to India, she had interacted with people in seven different cities and this has also planted many seeds for many more productive conversations in the future.
"It's the ease of doing business...Of knowing that the terms that are set out in the beginning and are the terms that will remain when they come here to India and to be able to know that they can be done in a timely fashion. These are the same things that the Indian businesses are also concerned about," she said when asked about the key things which will pave way for US manufacturers to come to India.
