The US has termed New Delhi as one of its most trusted and valuable partners in the region, but has expressed concern over India's declining growth rate and an apparent slowdown in its reform process. During a Congressional hearing, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Robert Blake noted that any discussion of South Asia has to start with India, but pointed out that its problems on the economic front threaten US's opportunities in the country. Blake said, India has passed quite an important reform to open up for foreign-direct investment in the multi-brand retail sector, which US thinks is very important, but observed that much more needs to be done. He praised India's journey of economic development in the past 20 years during which the volume of its GDP has increased ten times. Blake noted that despite some of these problems, India remains one of the fastest growing economies in the world and it is projected to be the third largest economy in the world by 2025.