Indian origin former American ambassador Atul Keshap was appointed as the US-India Business Council (USIBC) president effective from January 5. The US Chamber of Commerce made the announcement on Tuesday.
Keshap most recently served in New Delhi as United States Chargé d’Affaires to India, leading the US Embassy team, it said in a statement.
The Indian-origin Keshap has held many senior US government positions and is a 28-year veteran of the US Department of State.
Keshap said he is excited to continue his involvement in shaping and strengthening the robust relationship between the United States and India.
“India and its inspired citizenry hold a special place in my heart, and I believe there is no better place to continue this journey than serving as president of USIBC, which is committed and dedicated to enhancing commercial ties between the two countries,” he said.
“With the two countries on the cusp of entering an even more robust era in our strategic partnership, I feel privileged and honoured to lead USIBC,” he added.
Nisha Biswal, a former US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia and Keshap’s predecessor as president of USIBC, will remain deeply involved with the organization as the US Chamber of Commerce’s senior vice president of International Strategy and Global Initiatives and South Asia, noted the release.
“The U.S.-India Business Council is a critical and vital voice in driving ever closer commercial cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies,” said Myron Brilliant, executive vice president and head of the International Division of the US Chamber of Commerce.
“We’re ecstatic to have Ambassador Keshap as USIBC’s next president. His deep expertise, and deep global network will empower the organization to even greater heights and serve our members well.”
Biswal commented: “I’m thrilled to welcome my former State Department colleague to the US Chamber family. Ambassador Keshap brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of India and the Indo-Pacific to his new role. Across multiple US administrations, he has been instrumental in expanding U.S.-India strategic and economic cooperation and growing commercial ties across multiple sectors. I look forward to working with Atul and the entire USIBC team to deliver to our members and leaders in both countries unmatched experience, advocacy, and networks to further deepen the U.S.-India partnership.”
Keshap term as senior Foreign Service Officer, the rank of minister-counsellor, who served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, ended on June 15, 2021.
Across his career as an American diplomat, Keshap has served at postings in India, Morocco, and Guinea and as the United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He had also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia, as US Senior Official for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and as an Office Director in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs and the Bureau of International Organization Affairs.
USIBC represents top global companies operating across the United States, India, and the Indo-Pacific.
