Bid to offer Indian internships to US graduates

CHENNAI: A new private sector initiative named “Passport to India” will target American students - from high school to graduation - and offer them internships with companies and organisations in India, said Jennifer McIntyre, Consul General of the United States, Chennai.Speaking at an event organised by the Constituent Committee of City Chambers of Commerce on Friday, she said that the internships would range from three weeks to six months and would include service-learning opportunities such as volunteer work with an NGO, summer scientific research internships and internships with an organisation or private sector company linked to a student’s academic interests.Principal Commercial Officer at the Consulate James Golsen said that even during the worst of the recent economic downturn in the United States, trade between the countries grew at a very high rate, with exports from India to US growing at 180 per cent. “This showed that the companies in the US were looking for Indian partnerships,” he said.