Timothy Roemer this week joined the ranks of former American ambassadors to India to sign on as public relations professionals and lobbyists for US companies looking for a share of the nearly $2-trillion Indian economy.
The former six-term US representative for Indiana’s Third Congressional District joined APCO Worldwide, which describes itself as “an independent, global communication, stakeholder engagement and business strategy firm,” as Senior Vice-President, Founder and CEO Margery Kraus announced earlier.
Specifically Mr. Roemer is assigned to APCO’s Global Political Strategies and International Advisory Council groups, Ms. Kraus said in a press release, and in that capacity he will provide strategic counsel to international companies and governments entering global markets and expanding overseas.
His association with the firm stretches back at least to earlier this year, as in June, ahead of the US-India Strategic Dialogue in Washington, and in light of the “election outcomes in India as well as slower economic growth and market-entry challenges,” Mr. Roemer addressed an APCO-sponsored “exclusive media roundtable.”
At the event he was said to provide commentary on the bilateral relationship between India and the US and the “opportunities and challenges of doing business in India, avenues for US-India trade and investment [and] the current political climate on Capitol Hill.
APCO certainly wields some significant firepower. Another prominent figure who serves on its International Advisory Council is Lalit Mansingh, formerly Foreign Secretary of India, Indian Ambassador to the US and the UAE Emirates, and former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Nigeria.
Announcing Mr. Roemer’s membership of the firm Ms. Kraus noted, “We are very pleased that he’s joined our team, and we know he’ll be an integral resource to clients who are looking to create partnerships and business opportunities across growing markets throughout the world.”
Mr. Mansingh added, “I am pleased that Ambassador Roemer and I will have continued opportunities to collaborate through our work with APCO... I have dedicated my career to promoting India and its role in the global marketplace, and I look forward to partnering with Tim and other senior counsellors to help clients better develop corporate strategies, achieve successful market entry, and identify specific policy and communication challenges.”
During Mr. Roemer’s tenure as Ambassador, under the leadership of US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he was noted to have overseen the implementation of several key policies and initiatives, including increasing cooperation, technology transfer and commercial sales in the defence and space industries. However the US’ failure to be down-selected in the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) tender competition came shortly before he announced his resignation.
