Security stepped in Mumbai as India gets set to receive Obama

MUMBAI - Security has been stepped up in Mumbai, particularly the southern part of city, as the state administration gets set to receive US President Barack Obama at the start of his four-day visit to India, beginning today.

The Air Force One aircraft carrying Obama along with the First Lady Michelle is expected to touchdown at 12:50 p.m. at Mumbai’s Chhattrapati Shivaji Airport.

Obama, who will spend the night in Mumbai, will stay at the sea-side Taj hotel, the most prominent landmark that was attacked by Pakistani gunmen in November 2008.

The choice of Taj Hotel for his two-day stay in Mumbai, has been described by Obama as a “tribute to the resilience of the Indian people” and to underscore the shared commitment of the two countries to counter terrorism.

Obama will then visit the Gandhi Museum at Mani Bhawan to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

He will then attend a business summit organised by the US-India Business Council and participate in a roundtables with entrepreneurs and US CEOs.

He will also visit St Xavier’s College, where he will interact with students.

He will proceed to New Delhi tomorrow afternoon on the second and final leg of his visit.

In his departure statement in Washington last evening, Obama said he has set a goal of doubling America’s exports over the next five years.

Obama said: “I am going to talk about opening up additional markets in places like India, so that American businesses can sell more products abroad to create more jobs at home.”

Admitting that US is in the middle of a tough fight to get its economy growing faster, he said: “Businesses across the country can open and expand, so that people can find good jobs.”

” This will help repair the terrible damage that was done by the worst recession in our lifetimes,” he added. (ANI)