D.V. Venkatagiri has been working for five years to foster business connections between Georgia and his hometown of Chennai, India.
As if he didn’t have enough reason to keep returning, Mr. Venkatagiri was in Atlanta this week to unveil a new yearly publication aimed at smoothing the way for business between his city and the state.
Indian Consul General Ajit Kumar and other Atlanta leaders turned out at the offices of Smith, Gambrell and Russell LLP for the release of the 2012 India-USA Business Yearbook, which is published by Mr. Venkatagiri’s company, www.indousabiz.com.
The book includes articles on cross-border business issues and company listings, as well as advertisements and other information.
Speaking at the release event, Mr. Kumar said the book comes at an auspicious time in the bilateral relationship, as trade in goods and services during 2011 eclipsed $100 billion.
“I think this is a good omen for our relationship, which is much closer than ever before in all its aspects,” he said.
Donald Nay, the newly arrived head at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Atlanta, fondly recounted his seven years in India, four of them spent at the U.S. consulate in Chennai.
“I like to consider myself an honorary south Indian,” he said.
Like Mr. Kumar, he sees unprecedented communication between U.S. and India at the highest levels, but he also highlighted the importance of small-scale interactions like the delegation.
“That’s where the real magic is,” Mr. Nay said.
Mr. Venkatagiri is also the Chennai representative of Atlanta-based Transatlantic Sales LLC, an incubator company that provides clerical support, warehouse space and marketing assistance for foreign companies breaking into the U.S. market.
For more information, visit www.indousabiz.com.
