1.14. P2P: Diaspora

♤ The 3.5-million-plus strong Indian American community is an important ethnic group in the U.S., accounting for about 1% of the total population in the country.

♤ Indian American community includes a large number of professionals, business entrepreneurs and educationalists with increasing influence in the society.

♤ With two Indian Americans occupying high level posts of Governor and several representatives of the people, the Indian Diaspora has assimilated into their adopted country and is acting as a catalyst to forge closer and stronger ties between India and the U.S.

♤ The two countries have been working together to facilitate travel of their respective citizens, and to this end an MOU has been signed in June 2016 to facilitate India's joining of the Global Entry Programme for expedited immigration for eligible Indian citizens at U.S. airports.

♤ During the visit of Prime Minister to the U.S. in June 2016, the two countries also announced their decision to celebrate 2017 as Travel and Tourism Partner Countries.