7 deals to be inked during Obama's visit
By siliconindia   |   Tuesday, 26 October 2010, 21:43 IST
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New Delhi: Barack Obama's much anticipated Novemebr 6-9 visit to India will see both countries signing seven deals in defence, trade, climate change, education, clean energy, market access and high technology exports, reports Yogima Seth Sharma from the Financial Chronicle. "We have some great things going since President Obama engaged with your prime minister in Washington DC," the report cited a senior U.S. government official as saying, referring to Manmohan Singh's state visit last November. "A year later we don't want to demonstrate in clear terms how the partnership will move forward and significantly," the official added. The U.S. has projected bilateral trade with India to touch $50 billion this year. The two-way trade doubled to $43 billion between 2004-08. The growing significance of trade between two countries can be gauged from the fact that a delegation of over 100 corporate honchos will be accompanying Obama when he lands in Mumbai on November 6. It is expected that trade related issues would top deliberations between the two countries during Obama's visit and afterwards, as some of his officials are likely to stay longer. Discussion on defence deals will also top the agenda as the two sides are engaged in the largest number of joint military exercises. "India-U.S. commercial dialogue will happen between Francisco Sanchez, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade and commerce ministry officials. We will discuss at length several trade issues that would be left unresolved during Obama's visit," said Rahul Khullar, Commerce Secretary. On the issue of hike in visa fees, a senior U.S. official said the Obama-led delegates are eager to hear the views of Indian companies. "We think we will find a way out to this problem as we understand the Indian government's concerns and its implications for the U.S.," he added. "India and the U.S. enjoy a mature and well established defence relationship that is built on exchange of personnel and professionals in the military sphere. We will use this partnership to further strengthen it as we negotiate on military transport equipment, aircrafts and radars," a top U.S. official added. Last week, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar said that India and the U.S. are unlikely to ink any major defence deal during Obama's visit. "Defence is only one part of major state visits, but an important element. The processes of negotiations are going on with regard to defence deals (with the US) including the C-17s. To say that it will be inked (during Obama's visit) is not correct," PTI had cited Kumar as saying. Another senior U.S. embassy official said that U.S. is keen to partner India on regional issues because of its growing clout in Asia and in high technology trade.

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