Indian 'mentor' plans 78-day road trip in US to boost trade

Mumbai, May 23:  An Ahmedabad-based management consultant will embark on a 78-day road trip across the United States next month to encourage growth in US-India trade, an official said here on Tuesday.

Jagat Shah, under his initiative 'Mentor On Road-United States', will during his 15,400-km journey covering 32 cities in 24 states, meet business groups, universities authorities, and entrepreneurs, especially focusing on opportunities for small, medium-sized enterprises, start-ups and women.

"I plan to have business meeting with American start-ups or innovation centres connecting them to opportunities in India, meet small and medium-sized enterprises and explain to them on how to trade with India," Shah told media persons at the US consulate here.

He would specifically focus on meeting American women business owners and link them with Indian women entrepreneurs.

"The 'Mentor On Road' is an amazing initiative aimed at boosting trade between India and the US," said Principal Commercial officer Greg Taevs of the US Consulate in Mumbai.

US Consulate spokesperson Heidi Hattenbach said the initiative would not just connect our cities through trade but also through people and tourism and foster US-India bilateral ties at every level.