Thanks for signing the petition to bring a Consulate of India to Los Angeles along with 4,376 others. We also had the support of dozens of mainstream organizations. And the Mayor of Los Angeles wrote a persuasive multi-page letter to the Indian government. We won!

Last Monday, India executed a 10-year lease for an entire floor at the recently renovated 707 Wilshire Blvd in downtown Los Angeles, the 62 story Aon Center where the Consulate of India in Los Angeles will be located. The Foreign Ministry has selected the Consul General, and I am in touch with him. The official announcement is awaited.

Credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who personally announced the decision to select Los Angeles. Also, to Dr. Srikar Reddy, Consul General in San Francisco and his team for diligently selecting a prestigious location worthy of a $4 trillion economy that is now the fourth largest by GDP. This consulate will serve southern California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.

Now the hard work begins in two ways:

·         Each of us needs to speak about the importance of India to Southern California and the region. We need to amplify this message to our neighbors, co-workers, bosses and customers. India needs to have a seat at the table in any international discussion in the region from yoga to entertainment to business, trade and investment. Currently India is often misunderstood and often ignored. Together we can change this.

·         To get our message heard, we need to be visible in local media, at local events and speak  to those in the corridors of power. This needs funding, since India is competing with 18 of the G20 countries, plus many others here, in the most international American city in the West. India International Impact is part of a 501c(3) tax-deductible charity and your donation in any amount will help us all be a bigger voice for US-India relations. You can send your donation by Zelle to india@indiaintlimpact.org. Thank you in advance.

Look for stories  about the Consulate in the Los Angeles Times, in India Abroad and in dozens of other online media. Where media permits, I encourage you to post an online comment with your favorite good fact about close U.S. India relations.

Onward and upward!

Gunjan Bagla and the India International Impact team