High-level US official to visit India next week for talks on food insecurity, global health

A senior US State Department official will visit India next week for talks on a variety of US multilateral goals, including addressing food insecurity and boosting global health.

Michele Sison, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, will visit Bangladesh and Kuwait from August 2 to 10. Sison will have discussions on a variety of US international initiatives during her visit. She will also speak on humanitarian needs, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding.

“Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele J. Sison will travel to India, Bangladesh, and Kuwait August 2-10 for consultations on a range of U.S. multilateral priorities, including combating food insecurity, advancing global health, addressing human rights and humanitarian needs, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and support for Rohingya refugees,” the US State Department said in a statement.

Sison’s discussions with top government officials will focus on potential to enhance collaboration at the United Nations, as well as US support for Doreen Bogdan-candidacy Martin’s for the position of Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union.

“In meetings with civil society leaders, the Assistant Secretary will exchange ideas on how the United States and other countries can collaborate on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” the State Department added.

Sison’s visit comes only days after USAID Administrator Samantha Power’s two-day visit to India.

She met with India’s political leaders multiple times. The USAID Administrator also attended a town hall discussion with US Embassy and USAID workers, during which she reflected on the 75-year diplomatic connection between the US and India.

During her visit, she met with USAID’s local Indian team and congratulated them for their dedication to furthering locally-led development in India, as well as their fortitude in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak.