India to open two new consulates in the US

India will open two new consulates in the United States this year, in the cities of Atlanta and Seattle.

The decision to this effect was taken at the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George
Bush in Washington, Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon said while briefing newsmen about the Singh-Bush meeting.

Both the size of the community and its commercial interest was the criteria taken into consideration while deciding that the new consulates will be located at these cities, he said.

Both Seattle and Atlanta have a large Indian community.

To a question whether there are plans to open more consulates, Menon said the government would like to open as
many consulates as possible.

Currently, India has consulates in New York, Houston, Chicago and San Francisco besides the Embassy at Washington.

Menon said Singh and Bush, who share a strong chemistry, expressed satisfaction over the way the relations between the two countries, including the strategic partnership, have progressed under their charge over the last three years.

There was also an atmosphere of farewell as this was perhaps the last meeting between the two leaders before Bush leaves the White House at the end of the year.