Thank You for your support April 09, 2009, 11:26 AM Thank you for reading my first email. Your response has been heart-warming. I share your hopes and dreams and we will work together to make them happen. I consider it a great honour to serve the people of Thiruvananthapuram . There is no reason we cannot make Thiruvananthapuram a centre of excellence and a global city. This is an important election for Thiruvananthapuram and for India. As the global economy stumbles, we need to work together to ensure that Thiruvananthapuram does not suffer. Under the able leadership of our Prime Minister and the policies of the UPA, India has done better than most other countries in coping with the global crisis. Yet, the crisis is far from over. I pledge to work effectively with the Central and State governments and the private sector to ensure that Thiruvananthapuram continues to develop and create jobs despite the difficult global environment. Over 50% of India’s space scientists are already here. The new Indian Institute of Science Education and Research and the Indian Space Institute are coming up here. We must attract more such institutions to take advantage of the natural and human resources we offer. An excellent example is the Rajiv Gandhi Center for Biotechnology set up by the State and now directly under the Department of Biotech, Government of India, which is doing cutting-edge research. I will push for the establishment of “technology incubators” which would attract scientific entrepreneurs and our own scientists to set up biotech based industries in Thiruvananthapuram – which would also lead to significant employment. I will push hard for the realization of the proposed life science park being set up by the Industries Department of Kerala. I will work to ensure that in a few years there will be many more such institutions in and around Thiruvananthapuram. In less than ten days, on 16 April, you will have an important choice to make in the election. Please visit our website, Shashitharoor.in, where I have outlined my vision for Thiruvananthapuram. It is important to make an informed choice. I ask for your support to make Thiruvananthapuram a better place for all. Please vote for me on 16 April. Thank you for your attention. Yours sincerely, Shashi Tharoor