Speeches & Articles

Remarks by
CONSUL GENERAL BETH A. PAYNE
 Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT)
Bhubaneswar, Orissa
September 12, 2008

September 12, 2008

Dr. Achyut Samanta
Distinguished Faculty
KIIT students
My new friends in Orissa
“Namoshkar”

I would like to thank Dr. Samanta and his colleagues for inviting me and my colleagues to visit the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology.  It is a pleasure to visit the campus and to meet many of you, the students and faculty of KIIT.

Before I arrived in India, I heard a lot about Orissa’s cultural heritage and rich literary tradition, its potential as an investment destination, and the warmth of its people.  During my brief visit here, I have had an opportunity to meet with many people, and everywhere I have been greeted with the same warmth.  So, thank you for such a warm welcome to Orissa.

Over the past year, I was a student just like you, at the U.S. Defense University.  For one of my classes, I wrote a paper about Orissa.  In my research, I discovered Orissa’s recent economic progress.  I learned that Orissa is in the process of diversifying its economy in a way that will give the people of this state more choices in how to pursue their dreams.  It is truly exciting to be here to witness this transformation.

I am also delighted to be in India at a time when cooperation between our two countries is at an all-time high.  An important component of this ever-closer relationship between India and the U.S. are you, the students of India.  Over 83,000 Indian students are currently studying in the U.S. and they contribute greatly to America’s culture, society and economy.

What attracts so many Indian students to the United States?  First and foremost is the quality of education.  American universities and colleges are known for their academic rigor and quality assurance.  A degree from an accredited U.S. university is sought after because it earns respect worldwide and gives a job-seeker an advantage when he or she approaches a prospective employer.

In addition, long experience with international students means that most American universities have an office that deals effectively with foreign students and their issues, providing a variety of services such as campus orientation, personal and career counseling as well as advice on housing and cultural events.  The result is that students from anywhere on the globe can feel at home on or near an American campus.

For all of these reasons I encourage you to think about pursuing higher education in the U.S.  Quality education, academic choice, and an international lifestyle – American universities and colleges have it all.

You can start the process of finding the right school for you by consulting with the U.S. India Educational Foundation in India office in the American Center in Kolkata.  There are flyers available with the contact information for USIEF.  USIEF will help you navigate your way through the student application process.

One requirement to be a student in the U.S. is to be eligible for a U.S. visa.  So, here to explain the U.S. visa process and answer your questions about U.S. visas is my colleague, Ms. Deborah Miller, the U.S. Consul in Kolkata.