Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar on August 7 renewed Karnataka's pitch for a full-fledged US consulate in Bengaluru, saying the city needs a permanent diplomatic mission rather than just a trade office to support the rapidly expanding India-US partnership.
Speaking at the preview of Quantum exhibition season hosted at Science Gallery Bengaluru in the presence of US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, Shivakumar said Bengaluru's status as India's technology and innovation capital -- home to more than 1,000 American companies and a large US citizen community -- justified the establishment of a permanent US diplomatic presence.
"It matters deeply to the people of Karnataka that Bengaluru has earned a US consulate. We are asking for a full-fledged US consulate, not just a trade office," he said.
Shivakumar assured the US government that Karnataka would provide land for the mission and facilitate all state-level approvals. "We are ready to provide a permanent location and ensure swift state-level clearances. A diplomatic presence will deepen cooperation in technology, innovation, research, defence and aerospace," he said.
He added that a permanent mission would strengthen collaboration between Karnataka and the US while making it easier for businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs to engage with one another. Visa services, he said, could be introduced later if the US government considered it appropriate.
The CM's remarks come as Karnataka continues to press for a fully operational US consulate in Bengaluru. The US government formally opened its Bengaluru consulate in January 2025. It now operates from the US Commercial Service office at JW Marriott but does not yet offer visa services. When fully operational, it is expected to eventually offer visa services, reducing dependence on the US consulates in Chennai and Hyderabad.
Notably, Ambassador Gor made no reference to the demand for a full-fledged consulate. Instead, he highlighted Karnataka's growing importance in the India-US economic and strategic partnership. "We wanted to be here because we care about this place. We care about Karnataka and Bengaluru, and it is vitally important for us to be here," he said.
The ambassador said the US remained committed to expanding engagement with Karnataka in sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), data centres, pharmaceuticals, defence, energy and advanced technologies.
"Every week I meet American companies that ask whether India is the place to invest. Week after week, we see more companies opening here and finding win-win opportunities," he said.
He said bilateral trade between India and the US has grown from about $20 billion a decade ago to over $240 billion, while cooperation has expanded across defence, healthcare and critical technologies.
He added that he had met executives from companies including Meta, Rolls-Royce and Netflix over the previous day, reflecting the breadth of commercial engagement between the two countries. "There is virtually no sector where the United States and India are not working together-whether it is AI, data centres, pharmaceuticals, defence or energy," he said.
Calling the potential of the bilateral relationship "limitless", Gor said Karnataka would play a pivotal role in its future growth.
Karnataka pitches innovation
Highlighting Karnataka's technology ecosystem, Shivakumar said the state is developing India's first Quantum City and building a comprehensive quantum technology ecosystem involving universities, scientists, startups and industry.
He said the state also plans to establish centres of excellence beyond Bengaluru in emerging technologies such as quantum computing and AI. "The future of Karnataka's growth will be shaped not just by physical infrastructure but by knowledge infrastructure," he said. Shivakumar said the state was ready to support investments, research partnerships and innovation-led collaboration.
