Tawang Festival
US Ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster at Tawang Festival 2019. Also seen are Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Knadu and MoS for sports & youth affairs Kiren Rijiju. Image credit – Northeast Now

The US Ambassador to India Kenneth I. Juster on Monday said the US would fund to upgrade more health centres with modern technologies in Arunachal Pradesh.

While speaking at 7th Tawang Festival 2019 beginning on Monday, Juster said the US has been funding Arunachal Pradesh in improving the health sector.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

Also read: US Ambassador Juster inaugurates Tawang Festival

Juster, who inaugurated the festival, said, “More health centres in the state will be upgraded with modern technologies so that proper and good health services are provided to the people.”

Saying that study on Arunachal would be quiet interesting, Juster said the University of Florida collaborated with Arunachal Pradesh’s lone central university Rajiv Gandhi University for a combined research work.

Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!

Speaking to a mammoth and enthusiastic crowd in the mystic and serene Tawang, the US Ambassador extended his gratitude to the people of the district for the exceptional hospitality offered to him and his entourage.

He also said he was mesmerised by the colourful people, their dresses, custom and traditions which offer other parts of the world to learn and know.

Pitching for conducting cultural exchange programmes which eventually strengthens the friendship and bonding, Juster disclosed that the US has been funding a lot of states in India for preservation of culture and traditions.

“This is one major sector where United States and Arunachal Pradesh can partner,” said the US Ambassador.

Khandu earlier informed him about the rich diversity of the state.

“Arunachal Pradesh has huge potential in form of natural resources,” said Khandu.

Khandu further informed that Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) has contracted out logistics to a local entrepreneur for finding HUMP flight wreckages belonging to WW II era.

“Until now, 20 aircrafts have been identified besides 5 martyrs’ remains and their personal belongings have been recovered. A HUMP museum is under construction in Pasighat and scheduled for inauguration in March 2020,” Khandu informed.

He requested US Ambassador Juster to visit Pasighat for its inauguration.

He also spoke on the Abor Country Travels and Expedition, a travel agency from the state, which has been working with the department of Geology and earth sciences of the University of Washington, Seattle and UCLA for the last 10 years.

PhD students from these universities visit Siang valley of the state for their field trips in regular intervals, Khandu said.

Khandu informed that in the last three years, Arunachal got only 336 US tourists.

He hoped that with the help of the US Embassy, this number may increase by 10 fold in coming two years.

Union minister of state for sports & youth affairs Kiren Rijiju said the festival is gradually becoming the face of Arunachal.

“With the hospitable people, tourist inflow in the area has increased manifold in just couple of years. Tawang is finds it prominent place in the world tourism map today,” he said.

Among others, US Consul General Patti Hoffman was also present at the inaugural function.