A prominent US Congressman has urged the Obama Administration to begin a dialogue with the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Ranking Member Eni F.H. Faleomavaega of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, who sees Modi as a possible Prime Minister of India, said it is time for the US to begin a dialogue.

“The US-India relationship is significant. It is one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century and Modi is a leading figure,” he said. He said this while testifying at a hearing entitled “The Rebalance to Asia: Why South Asia Matters (Part I)”, according to a press statement. He said with “Companies like Ford and General Motors are setting up factories in Gujarat and with delegates from more than 121 countries attending the Vibrant Gujarat 2013 Summit, it could be argued that Gujarat is now the global gateway to India.”