Nikki Haley is a star back home: Nirupama Rao

India's Ambassador to the US says Haley epitomises achievements of Indian American community.

India stepped up efforts to deepen its economic ties with the American state of South Carolina during a key meeting between India8217;s Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao and Governor Nikki Haley,the first woman of Indian origin to hold the top gubernatorial post.

Rao,who concluded her three-day visit to the state,held a series of meetings with Haley and other top officials on enhancing the partnership between India and South Carolina. The partnership aimed to seek ways for Indian companies to invest in South Carolina and to understand how South Carolina companies can help India in certain fields like infrastructure.

8220;South Carolina provides a very conducive environment for foreign investment which is what Indian companies would look to,8221; Rao,the former Indian Foreign Secretary told reporters.

The Indian Ambassador to the US praised Haley for epitomizing the achievements of Indian Americans in the US. 8220;She Nikki Haley is a star back home. We love her for her achievements. In many ways,she epitomises the achievements of the Indian American community in this country; all that they have done to make America proud and to make India proud, Rao said at a joint media availability with Haley.

Born of migrants from Punjab,Haley is the first Indian American woman governor of a US State and after Bobby Jindal of Louisiana,she is only the second Indian American Governor in the US. Both are from the Republican Party.

Haley underlined that India and its growth provides an opportunity to the people of South Carolina.

8220;It8217;s an opportunity to partner with a country which continues to be strong when it comes to developing new things in IT,in innovation,in medicine,in all of these things. How do we get Indian companies to get to do business in South Carolina? How do we partner so we benefit?8221; Haley said.

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Rao,who travelled to Charleston and Columbia during her trip,said in her discussions with Haley and her team she looked at the ways to cement better relations between India and South Carolina.

She said there are immense possibilities because this is really in many senses a time of awakening when it comes to the India US relationship.

8220;We have strategic partnership that has many many pillars to it that in fact encompasses almost every field of human endeavour,making a difference to the lives of people in your country and my country. We have a number of Indian companies that have invested here and are doing business,8221; she said. She said her efforts were aimed at bringing Indian companies to South Carolina and synergizing their respective capabilities and strengths.

She said that infrastructure development was 8220;a key priority8221; India is looking at. Praising the achievements of the Indian American community in the US,Haley said it has made commendable progress in every field and she is proud of being part of it.

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The Governor said the community is one of the highest educated among all the minority communities in the country. The Indian origin Governor said the Indian community has the highest per capita income of all the minority communities in

the US and is 8220;least dependent on government assistance8221;.

8220;The one that I love,the Indian community continues to be at the top among the most philanthropic communities of the country. I continue to be incredibly proud,8221; she said.