Washington D.C.

3 June 2016

Deputy Commissioner Kevin K. McAleenan,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here at the CBP Headquarters today for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between our two governments for India’s entry into the United States’ Global Entry Programme. Signing of this MoU is of special significance as it lends direct impetus to the people-to-people exchange between our two countries.  

Deep-rooted and vibrant links between the peoples of India and the United States has been a unique facet of the India-U.S. relationship, and has acted as a catalyst to forge closer and stronger ties between our two countries. The United States is home to more than three million Indian origin people who continue to maintain deep-rooted links with India. We see that more than a million of our citizens, from all walks of life – professionals, businesspersons, tourists and students – are travelling in both directions every year. This initiative will bring direct benefit to these travellers.

Expedited entry for the Indian travellers under this Programme at the U.S. airports will enable further easing of travel environment, and will have positive impact on all kinds of people-to-people exchange between our two countries. 

We understand that the United States maintains Global Entry partnership with a limited number of countries and we appreciate the U.S. Government’s offer of membership to India in this Programme. This initiative not only signifies outstanding cooperation between our two countries in immigration-related matters but also underlines continuing efforts on both sides to facilitate and make travel easier between our two countries.

I am particularly happy that this MoU is being signed on the eve of our Prime Minister's Official Working Visit to the U.S. next week. Strengthening people-to-people ties between our two countries has been at the very core of Prime Minister’s vision of our bilateral relationship with the United States. In the last two years, several initiatives have been taken by the Government of India for easing travel from the United States to India, which includes issuance of long term visas and introduction of electronic-Tourist Visas for U.S. citizens. India’s entry into Global Entry Programme will further ease travel between our two countries and strengthen people-to-people ties.

I look forward to a continued collaboration by our two sides to ensure a speedy operationalization of the Programme.

Thank you.

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