US chargé d’ affaires marks 75 years of Indo-US ties

HYDERABAD: US chargé d’ affaires Patricia Lacina visited Hyderabad to celebrate 246 years of US independence and commemorate the 75th anniversary of US-India diplomatic relations. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan joined Lacina and US Consul General Joel Reifman at the Independence Day gala event on Friday evening. The visit marked Lacina’s second trip to Hyderabad since she began her tenure in September 2021.

“It’s an honour to be in Hyderabad to celebrate US Independence Day and mark the 75th anniversary of US-India relations,” said Lacina. “Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha play a key role in the story of the US-India partnership. I am proud to be a part of that story with you.”

In addition to her attendance in the US Independence Day gala, Lacina visited the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics on Thursday. She also held a dinner with women leaders at the Taj Falaknuma. On Friday, she travelled to the Mitr Clinic, India’s first comprehensive clinic for the transgender community, which is also supported by USAID.

“Our new consulate is a down payment on future US-India relations,” said US Consul General Joel Reifman, who will leave his post and return to the United States in mid-June.

The US Independence Day event included speeches from Lacina, Reifman, and Dr Soundararajan. It also featured performances of the US and Indian national anthems, as well as a video previewing the features of the new US Consulate General building.

“Telangana is the youngest state in India and our relationship with US companies, organisations, and people is a great strength,” said Dr Soundararajan. “The presence of the US Consulate is a vote of confidence in Hyderabad, and we are confident that US-India ties are only going to deepen in Telangana.”