Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Imphal: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor arrived in Imphal on Friday to meet with top state leadership. He held talks at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Mantripukhri with Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. The Chief Minister brought along Chief Secretary Rajeev Singh Thakur for the session. Gor traveled with the US Consul General in Kolkata, Kathy Giles-Diaz.
Economic ties took center stage. The two sides explored ways to grow the partnership between the US and India. Gor posted on X, "Enjoyed hearing from Chief Minister @YKhemchandSingh about his vision for Manipur. We exchanged ideas about how the U.S. and India can work together to expand economic ties. The Chief Minister very kindly invited me back for the Manipur Sangai Festival."
Gor also sat down with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla. They discussed the state of US-India engagement. Beyond the meetings, the ambassador toured the ancient seat of power at Kangla Fort and the women-run Khwairamband Ema Keithel market. He is scheduled to spend the night in the capital.
Tourism development was a key theme. Gor praised the region, calling Manipur a "stunning place." He noted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus on the Northeast, while mentioning the special connection between the Prime Minister and President Donald Trump. Khemchand Singh framed the state as a "mini India" with 36 diverse communities, pitching tourism as a primary growth engine.
This trip follows Gor’s recent stop in Darjeeling. There, he met with Rajya Sabha MP and former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla to discuss youth aspirations and local heritage. The ambassador’s visit to Manipur occurs against a backdrop of persistent ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities, alongside recent reports of friction between Kuki and Naga groups.
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