Secretary's Speech

Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez
Remarks at the Sixth Annual White House Diwali Celebration
Washington, D.C.

Good afternoon. Happy Diwali and Sal Mubarak. It’s an honor to be here with all of you.

Today’s celebration marks the sixth year that the White House has gathered for this “Festival of Light.”

In a few minutes, I’ll participate in the lighting of the diya [dee-VAH], associated with hope for the future, spiritual renewal and the triumph of light over darkness. And whether or not we are Indian, we can all celebrate these themes, as they are relevant to us today.

This is a great opportunity to recognize the value of the U.S.-India relationship—both on an official and an individual level.

Our nations are blessed. Despite tough economic times, I know the American and Indian people are ready and willing to work together toward a peaceful and prosperous tomorrow. Our partnership is a model for the world.

From economic and democratic cooperation, to energy initiatives, together our two nations are making great strides.

In our nation of immigrants we are fortunate to include Indian-Americans. Indian immigrants have contributed to American culture, business, and politics.

In fact, this Administration has appointed more Americans of Indian origin than any other. On a personal level, I am proud to include Sandy Baruah in this long list of distinguished public servants.

Sandy served the Department of Commerce as the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, and he is now at the helm of the Small Business Administration. I know Sandy is continuing to serve the President and the American people well.

The prominent list of Indian immigrants and those educated in the United States goes on and on:

• Governor Bobby Jindal, the talented young Governor from Louisiana,
• Amar Gopal Bose, chairman and founder of the Bose Corporation,
• Kalpana Chawla, the brilliant NASA Space Shuttle mission specialist that perished tragically in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster,
• Inra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo, and
• Neel Kashkari the Interim Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability.

Many of you may have seen Mr. Kashkari in the news recently in his role as a primary advisor to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. He is serving our nation in a critical role as we confront this financial crisis.

We also have future leaders in the making. The U.S. draws more international students from India than from any other country. These students make valuable contributions to American academia, and strengthen the connections between our countries.

These bright young men and women open lines of dialogue between our countries that further cultural understanding.

India is also a great partner in democracy. By recognizing individual freedoms and the rule of law, India encourages a stable environment for economic innovation and an active and welcoming culture for Indians and visitors alike.

We know that strengthening our cultural ties helps ultimately to grow our economic ties. Our trade partnership is testament to that.

At 9.3 percent GDP growth, (for 2007) India has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Our trade relations with India are continually growing stronger on account of India’s favorable economic conditions.

The Indian market is an ideal environment for American products and services. In 2007, U.S.-Indo two-way merchandise trade reached an all-time high of more than $41 billion, up from 55 percent from 2005. And bilateral trade through August this year is up another 14 percent from last year.

The Commerce Department is working to make that trade relationship even stronger. For example:

For American businesses interested in India, our U.S. Commercial Service posts stand ready to provide the information and contacts necessary to operate in India.

We are working with Federal Express for a trade mission it is leading to India in November, which builds on the largest-ever federal government-led trade mission that went to India at the end of 2006.

And recently, the Commerce Department has certified the U.S.-India Business Council for a civil nuclear trade mission to India this December. This mission comes on the heels of our historic nuclear agreement.

As you all know, earlier this month, the President signed the U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act.

This major benchmark will allow our two nations to further harness nuclear energy to power our economies, while also reining in the threat of nuclear proliferation.

Thanks to the work of the President, this Administration and Congressional leaders, we take yet another step with India toward reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

Expanding nuclear opportunities will only advance innovation and job creation in both nations.

India serves as a model nation as it has committed its civil nuclear energy program to the standards set forth by the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international guidelines.

India’s example shows the world that innovation and safety are not mutually exclusive. I applaud India’s willingness to take the lead on this effort.

And nuclear is not the only area in which we are collaborating on the energy front. Last week I spoke at the “Green India” summit, highlighting a number of collaborations.

We have worked together through the Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate. The Commerce Department has led three clean energy trade missions to India.

Last month, Synergics, a U.S. company, signed a deal to provide hydroelectric power to approximately one million homes in India. U.S. products helping to deliver clean energy for Indian families represents the global economy in action.

I congratulate India on the release of the National Action Plan on Climate Change. This plan advances solar energy as the centerpiece of India’s efforts to change the way its citizens power their homes and businesses. U.S. firms stand ready to partner in this effort as well.

This type of innovation and vision is only the beginning of our journey towards creating clean, sustainable energy.

Our people-to-people ties are strong. We have a thriving Indian-American community here in the U.S.—one that has played an active role in supporting the growth of the government-to-government ties.

India is playing a continuously more important leadership role in the world. On Tuesday, India launched its first lunar mission. We applaud India for this considerable accomplishment.

And the world needs India to do more. We would like to see India take a constructive leadership role in the Doha negotiations.

A strong, market-opening result from these negotiations will help position India as a world leader and will benefit people in India and throughout the world.

As we celebrate the Festival of Light, let us take time to renew our efforts to work together to help create a future where people can realize a more prosperous and peaceful life.

As President Bush said to Prime Minister Singh in September, “India is a great country, with an incredibly bright future.” I couldn’t agree more.

Once again, thank you for joining us today to celebrate. I wish you and your loved ones a very happy Diwali.