At a community reception in Houston, India’s Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri lauded the country’s rapid economic growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting its rise from the 10th largest economy in 2014 to the 5th largest by 2019, surpassing the UK.
Speaking at the event, organised by Consul General of India in Houston, D.C. Manjunath, at India House, Puri highlighted Houston’s role in global energy, especially in green hydrogen and aerospace. He emphasised the deepening of US-India ties in the clean energy sector, calling the US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership “a cornerstone of future collaboration.”
Puri praised India's advancements in refining capacity and biofuel blending, stating, “India aims to boost its refining capacity to 300 million metric tons per annum.” He also underscored the government's commitment to urban development, with investments totalling USD 25 billion (Rs 1.57 lakh crore) in urban schemes from 2017 to 2024.'
“The scale of urban development is staggering, akin to building a new Chicago every year,” Puri said, referring to India’s rapid expansion of infrastructure, including new metro systems and airports. He noted that India’s civil aviation sector is set to grow significantly, with the number of airports increasing from 74 to 150.
Puri also celebrated Houston’s significance as a hub for energy innovation, recalling the 2019 “Howdy Modi” event as a showcase of strong US-India relations. He expressed gratitude for the Indian diaspora's contributions, particularly in medicine and engineering, and urged them to maintain their cultural traditions while living abroad.
Acknowledging the warmth from the Indian community in Houston, Puri said, “Your contributions are invaluable, and you enhance India’s global image wherever you go.”
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