The US Consulate launched the first-ever US-India Cyber Security Initiative with the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA) to strengthen IT connections between the two nations. US Consul General Mike Hankey, present at the MCCIA Pune Business International Business Summit, announced the initiative to bring together top global cyber security experts to create employment opportunities and innovate cutting-edge solutions.
This initiative intends to establish a cyberspace mentorship model for the city and cultivate interpersonal relationships in the digital space. Its timing aligns with the rapid advancements in digital technologies. Moreover, Hankey stressed the significance of a secure, resilient, and stable cyberspace for advancing public and private sectors, ensuring global access to online information.
Cybersecurity issues are paramount in the US-India bilateral relationship. Both countries’ challenges lie in mitigating cybersecurity threats while ensuring that the digital revolution fosters worldwide prosperity and stability. With the world witnessing extraordinary technological transformations across various fields, such as artificial intelligence, advanced telecommunications, critical and emerging technologies, bioengineering, and energy, the Cybersecurity Initiative underscores the close collaboration between the US and India. These advancements offer economic and social benefits globally, making cybersecurity in the expanding digital domain a critical concern. The centre will collaborate with research institutions, industry, and civil society to bolster cyber defences and infrastructure and safeguard sensitive information.
Partnering with MCCIA to launch this initiative reflects a shared vision for an open, safe, and prosperous environment for IT connections between the two countries. MCCIA Director General Prashant Girbane emphasised the strategic importance of the initiative for citizens, businesses, and governments.
In his summit address, Hankey reiterated the extraordinary transformations in artificial intelligence, advanced telecommunications, critical and emerging technologies, bioengineering, and energy sectors. He emphasised the collaborative nature of the Cybersecurity Initiative between the United States and India, highlighting its economic and social benefits globally, and reiterated the centre’s commitment to enhancing cyber defences and infrastructure while protecting sensitive information.
