Fri Dec 20 06:43:50 UTC 2024: ## US Consulate in Bengaluru to Open in January: Ambassador Garcetti
**New Delhi, December 20, 2024** – The United States is on track to open a new consulate in Bengaluru in January 2025, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti announced Thursday. This fulfills a long-standing request, as the US was the only major nation without consular representation in the tech hub of Karnataka.
Ambassador Garcetti, speaking at a US-India Business Council event, confirmed that the consulate’s opening is imminent, highlighting the already established Foreign Commercial Service presence in the city. He stated that the US is working diligently to finalize the opening.
The announcement was met with enthusiasm from Karnataka’s IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge, who lauded the move as a significant boost to the state’s economy and Indo-US relations. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also celebrated the development, noting it addressed a long-standing need for Bengaluru residents who previously had to travel to Chennai or Hyderabad for visa services. Mr. Surya credited his advocacy for the consulate, mentioning his correspondence with External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar beginning in 2019.
The new consulate is expected to significantly improve bilateral ties and facilitate economic and technological collaboration between the US and India, particularly within the thriving tech sector of Bengaluru.
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