Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri praised India’s economic growth under Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, highlighting the country’s advancement from the 10th largest economy in 2014 to the 5th largest by 2019, surpassing the UK. At a reception organized by the Consul General of India in Houston, Mr. D C Manjunath, at India House, he emphasized Houston’s significant role in the global energy sector, particularly in green hydrogen and aerospace. He discussed deepening US-India collaboration in clean energy, lauding India’s refining capacity and biofuel blending initiatives to increase refining capacity to 300 million metric tons annually. He also described the US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership as a key foundation for future cooperation.
He highlighted India’s urban development ambitions, stating that the government has committed US$ 25 billion (Rs. 1.57 lakh crore) to urban schemes from 2017 to 2024, likening the expansion to building a new Chicago annually. He mentioned that the number of airports is set to grow from 74 to 150, reflecting the rapid growth of India’s civil aviation sector. He acknowledged the contributions of the Indian diaspora, particularly in medicine and engineering, while stressing the importance of maintaining cultural traditions abroad. He expressed gratitude for the warm reception from the Indian community in Houston, recognizing their role in enhancing India’s global standing.
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