Indian docs, hoteliers in US lobby for N-deal, host lunch for Rice

WASHINGTON: Two of the largest and influential Indian American associations have joined hands to lobby for the India-US nuclear deal and work in ways to help develop a strategic relationship between the two countries.

The two — American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) — representing more than 50,000 Indian American physicians and hoteliers, are having US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice join them at a power lunch on Monday.

As the US Congress prepares to vote on the enabling legislation for the nuclear deal, this will provide Rice an opportunity to describe the impact that this initiative will have on US-India relations and US foreign policy overall, the associations stated in a press release.

Other featured speakers include the India Caucus co-chair in the House of Representatives, Gary Ackerman, Assistant Secretary of State Richard A Boucher, US Ambassador to India David Mulford and India’s Ambassador to US Ronen Sen.

“As Asian Americans who moved to this country and worked hard to establish their businesses and who want to give back to their communities, the members of AAHOA and AAPI share many goals,” said AAHOA president Fred Schwartz.

“We welcome this opportunity to come together and lobby for legislation that enables the United States and India to move forward on this historic agreement for the benefit and welfare of these two great democracies.”

AAHOA chairman Mukesh Mowji said, “AAHOA values the chance to unite with other Asian American organizations to show its support for the US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative.”

“We want to send a strong message to the White House and our Congressional delegates that we will work with them to assist in developing a strategic partnership with India, and formulate policies and initiatives for the good of Indian Americans here and abroad.”

AAPI president S Balasubramaniam said his organisation looks forward to working with the US government to do its part as physicians across America in ensuring that India-US relations continue to grow.

Representing over 8,300 members, AAHOA is one of the leading forces in the hospitality industry with members owning more than 20,000 hotels and motels with over 1m rooms and an estimated value of more than $40bn.

With a constituency of over 41,000 doctors and 10,000 medical students and residents, AAPI is the largest ethnic medical and the largest Indian American professional association in the US.