Indore, Feb 6: United State Consul General Michael S Owen here claimed that the kind of relations at various levels both the United States and India are enjoying, is encouraging. Business and academic interaction between the two countries are growing and it will grow in future, Owen said while talking to media persons here at Indore Press Club. Observing an America Day in Indore and other parts of the country, is an indication to the growing relationship between the two countries, he said The US consul General further said that after the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited United States sometime back, both the government signed an open sky agreement. As a result of this, the number of flights operating between two countries increased from both the sides.

Similarly, academic relation between the two countries has also grown over the years and this is evident from increase in Full Bright Scholarships to India by the United States from 120 to 250, Owen said adding that the number of students from United States visiting India for higher studies grew by 40% in 2007 and this reflects that at academic level too between the two countries was increasing.

Talking about the murder of Indian students on academic campuses in the United States, though he described the incident as unfortunate, at the same time said that efforts were being made that such kinds of incidents did not recur in future. In order to rein in violent incidents at the university-level in United States, Owen said that an ultra-modern vigil on students was being kept there.

Replying to a question, the US Consul General said that Madhya Pradesh is one of the five states in India including that of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh and Goa and many companies of the United States to make investment in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the agriculture sector which has immense scope in the state.

On the problems of visas that people from India have to face to go to the United States, he said steps have been taken to simplify visa clearances and it will be done further. Talking about the Indian communities in the United States, he said people from Indian origin have made significant impacts in various spheres in the United States including politics and Bobby Zindal being appointed as governor of one of the US states is a pointer to the growing prominence of Indians in the United States, he added.