Rama Krishna Sangem
Jennifer Larson, senior US diplomat in the Biden administration is the new US Consul General in Hyderabad. She took the charge in Hyderabad on September 12, Monday. Now acting deputy assistant secretary for India, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, in the US department of State. Larson was the deputy principal officer of US consulate in Mumbai.
Jennifer, with immense knowledge in defence and geopolitical matters of Asia and South Asia, is expected to play a role in formulating the Biden-Harris administration’s India policy. Besides looking after the issuance of visas, a major activity of a US Consul General in Hyderabad, Jennifer will also contribute to expansion of US India ties on trade, education and strategic matters, those with knowledge in this regard told Excel India.
India figures top on the agenda of the US for the last few years, especially in the wake of China’s aggression towards Taiwan and the trade tensions between both the countries. India joining US led Quad – with Australia, Japan – and another Quad sort of thing – with Israel and Saudi Arabia – focus President Joe Biden’s attention on India.
Jennifer Larson, a foreign service diplomat, earlier served in Tripoli of Libya, Pakistan, Israel, Lebanon, Sudan and France in various capacities. She has good exposure with media as the spokesperson at bureau of near eastern affairs. Jennifer studied her under graduation and graduation in Comparative Literature (Arabic, Spanish and French) from University of California, Berkeley.
NRIs led by Ravi Puli felicitate Jennifer:
Before leaving for Hyderabad, India, Jennifer was felicitated by NRI businessman Ravi Puli at Tower Club, Tyson’s Corner, Virginia on September 6, Tuesday. Around 25 delegates drawn from different fields of business, pharmacy and technology gathered and wished her the best in Hyderabad. She said more counters – around 55 – will be opened at Hyderabad’s consulate for issuance of more US visas from the city.
Ravi Puli, a software business for around 25 years in the US, has founded US India Solidarity Mission, a not for profit organisation and done immense services to Indians in the country. He played an active role during the Covid pandemic by arranging special flights to send back Indians who got stranded in the US. This familiarization meet for Jennifer too is intended to help her understand the requirements of Telugu speaking people.
Speaking to Excel India later, Ravi Puli, said: “We are happy to felicitate Jennifer here in the US, before she took charge in Hyderabad. There is a growing number of Indians, particularly from Hyderabad, representing Telangana and AP. I hope her stint would witness further strengthening of ties between both the countries”.
US India SME Council CEO Elisha Pulivarty (also Excel India bureau chief in Washinton DC) and leading NRI businessmen and professionals Dr Ravi Kota, Partha Karamchetti, Bhanu, Santosh and Jayant were present. Elisha talking to Excel India said: “Jennifer Larson is an efficient and able diplomat and it is heartening to see her lead Hyderabad’s US consulate”.
