US keen on infrastructure partnerships with Orissa: Roemer
09 Apr 2010
US ambassador to India Timothy.J Roemer yessterday said that his country is keen on joint partnership with Orissa in mining, power, and port development as well as education and business development.
Roemer, winding up his two-day visit to the state after a meeting with chief minister Naveen Patnaik, said he talked about the prospects of US partnership with the state. "I enquired from the chief minister about what kind of opportunities exist for the USA in joint development programmes," Roemer told reporters in Bhubaneshwar.
Stating that the US partnership with Orissa in drinking water and sanitation is highly successful, he said the model would be replicated elsewhere in months ahead.
The US diplomat had a first-hand experience in the Gyan Nagar slum in Bhubaneswar city where the people were supplied piped drinking water by the NGO, BISWA (Bharat Integral Social Welfare Agency) with financial support from American aid organisation USAID.
Describing Orissa as a "wonderful and hospitable" state, Roemer said his visit was highly successful.
Speaking on the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, Roemer said that would be an exciting partnership at the global level on nuclear security. He said that heads of 45 countries are meeting for the first time since 1945.