Consul General Cornelis M. Keur being welcomed by Mr. C Sudhir Babu, President HMA at the 37th Annual Awards function of the Hyderabad Management Association. Saturday June 20, 2009

Address At The Hyderabad Management Association's 37th Annual Awards Function, Saturday June 20, 2009 Consul General Cornelis M. Keur during an address to the 37th Annual Awards function of the Hyderabad Management Association said that it was the talent pool on offer in Hyderabad which attracted large U.S. Companies.  This also attracted the U.S. Government to open their newest Consulate General in 25 years in Hyderabad.  “Very few people outside of Andhra Pradesh realize the contribution made by the people from this State to the United States and internationally. People from Andhra Pradesh are providing creative talent in

areas such as Science, Information Technology, and Medicine among others,” Consul General Keur said.

He added that this talent has contributed greatly to the economic development of the United States and many other countries.  “The marvelous thing people here bring to bear in the workplace is not only great talent but also intellectual focus combined with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The entrepreneurial spirit is not just to make money but also to be able to provide service to society,” Consul General Keur observed.

Citing an example specifically pointing towards the opening of the Consulate General in Hyderabad, Mr. Keur pointed out that initially around 35 people without any consular experience were employed and given on the job training.   “We started issuing visas towards the end of March this year, projecting that we would probably be able to handle the full workload sometime in the late summer. But in six weeks from the time we started issuing visas, the employees were able to handle the full work load; and currently on an average we are doing more than 400 visa interviews in a day,” the Consul General added.

Finally, Consul General Keur also observed that there was  a harmonic convergence of biotech and hitech taking place in AP which will help not only advance the economy of the State but also the economy of India, which in turn would have a resonating effect in the United States.