Indian Ambassador to the United States Arun K Singh says the 3.5 million Indian-American community has an important role to play in enhancing Indo-US ties. He said that, in the bilateral relationship, people-to-people contact is a key dimension.

Addressing to the members of the Indian American community in Cleveland and those attending Republican National Convention here at a reception hosted in his honor, he said that, "I think, what gives a real, solid and fundamental basis to the (India-US) relationship is the people-to-people dimension of the relationship."

There are around 3.5 million Indian-Americans all over the United States. At present, the country has  110,000 Indian- origin doctors and every seventh patient in the US is seen by an Indian doctor, the recent statistics revealed.

Adding to this, Indian-origin people are generating around USD 4.5 billion to the US economy, as the owned and managed forty per cent of the all hotel rooms in the United States.

Within this, a number of 140,000 Indian students come to the US every year for higher studies bringing about USD 4.5 billion to the US economy.

"So it's a huge engagement with US institutions," Singh said.

"I believe all of you will have an important role to play in contributing to this. All of you in a sense are permanent Ambassadors here. You have an understanding of the US. You have an understanding of India and Indian society. So based on this understanding and the network that you have you will be in a position to take forward this relationship in different areas," Singh said.

The reception was organized by Indian-American Forum for Political Education chaired by Dr Sampat Shivangi, an eminent Republican from Mississippi.

Shivangi, a delegate to the Republican National Convention, said that, "This is an effort to honour the Indian Ambassador and establish relationship between the Indian Government and the community."

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Nandini