U.S. Legislators Meet Indian Leaders in Goa, Pune and Mumbai

November 7, 2009

ACYPL delegates with the Chief Minister (CM), Speaker, and Goa's political/economic leaders, and their spouses, at the dinner hosted by Goa CM Digambar Kamat, at Taj Vivanta on November 7, 2009

Consulate General Mumbai’s Public Affairs Section organized a political study tour of Goa, Pune and Mumbai, November 6-10, 2009, for a visiting American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) delegation comprising of seven U.S. state legislators and officials.  In Goa, the delegates met with the Chief Minister (equivalent to a U.S. governor), the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, Leader of the Opposition, several ministers, bureaucrats and members of Goa legislative assembly, and gained a clear understanding and appreciation of Goa’s dynamic political, economic and social structure.  In Pune, the ACYPL visitors interacted with the management, faculty and students of the Maharashtra Institute of Technology’s School of Government as well as local political and community leaders.  In Mumbai, interactive sessions at the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly and the Bombay Stock Exchange were part of the ACYPL’s itinerary.  The discussions in three important cities of western India touched upon important bilateral issues, including the US-India nuclear deal, political/legislative issues such as elections and legislative procedures, global issues such as the environment and WTO, and social issues such as healthcare and education.  All events were widely reported by the print and electronic media.