New York:
India's Consul General Dnyaneshwar Mulay invited American individuals and companies to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship projects 'Make in India' and 'Digital India' as he, accompanied by Bollywood star Arjun Rampal, rang the closing bell at Nasdaq to celebrate India's 69th Independence Day.
Mr Mulay and Mr Rampal visited the Nasdaq market site in Times Square in New York yesterday to ring the traditional Closing Bell.
This was the sixth year that India's Consul General rang the closing bell at the Nasdaq stock exchange to commemorate the country's independence day.
Mr Mulay underlined the "growing thriving relationship" between India and the US.
He said India's economy is rapidly transforming and requires huge investments across various sectors.
"Prime Minister Modi has initiated a number of reforms and flagship projects like Digital India, Make in India, Clean India and the Smart cities program," he said.
"I want American people to join in this great economic reforms movement. I also want more and more Indian companies coming to America (and to) Nasdaq," he said.
Welcoming Mr Mulay and Mr Rampal, Nasdaq Senior Vice President Bob McCooey said there is no better place to celebrate India's independence day than at Times Square, which is the "crossroads of the world."
Mr McCooey noted Nasdaq's growing presence in India, "which is on its way to becoming a global powerhouse."
Referring to the "great entrepreneurship" and "fantastic companies" in India, he expressed hope that many more Indian companies will list at Nasdaq in the future.
Currently five Indian companies are listed at Nasdaq and have a combined market capitalisation of USD 43 billion. These include MakeMyTrip.com, Rediff, Videocon d2h and Cognizant.
"For us in Nasdaq, this has now become an annual event. This is the sixth time we have been honored with your presence here to celebrate the independence day," Mr McCooey said amid huge cheers and applause from the large number of Indian-Americans who had gathered for the closing bell ceremony.
Mr Rampal, dressed in a dark blue shirt and gray coat, tweeted after the bell ceremony, "Feeling super proud to be an Indian. Independence Day celebrations begin."
Mr Rampal will be the Grand Marshal at the 35th India Day Parade tomorrow that will run through several streets in the heart of Manhattan.
Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra will be the Guest of Honour at the parade, which will also be attended by cricketer Virendar Sehwag.
Nasdaq's giant screen in Times Square extended a warm welcome to Mr Rampal, with the words "Nasdaq welcomes Arjun Rampal" displayed on it along with the Emblem of India.
Commemorating the country's independence day, flag hoisting ceremonies will be held at the Consulate as well as at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN's premises.