Large US Congressional delegation to India

WASHINGTON: A 10-member US Congressional delegation will pay a weeklong visit to India from Friday to discuss enhancing bilateral political and economic cooperation.

Led by Joseph Crowley, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and a Democratic chief deputy whip, the all-Democrat delegation's visit has been sponsored by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

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This is the largest Congressional delegation to visit India. It will travel to New Delhi, Agra, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

"With over 300 million citizens considered middleclass and with a burgeoning economy and geopolitical role, strengthening US-India relations is more important now than ever for trade and security," Crowley said in a statement ahead of the delegation's departure.

A business delegation from New Jersey, a state which had proposed a law to ban outsourcing of jobs to India, too will leave for New Delhi Saturday to explore possibilities of joint ventures with Indian companies in various spheres, including IT.

The delegation comprising Representative Frank Pallone, former co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India, and Seema Singh, president of the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce (AICC), has sought a meeting with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, or Indian Diaspora Day, conference in New Delhi during January 9-11.

Singh is a high-ranking Indian American in the cabinet of New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey.

Leading the Congressional delegation with Crowley will be House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, the second highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives.

Other members of the delegation are Steve Israel, Carolyn McCarthy, Denise Majette, Jim Marshall, Barbara Lee, Anthony Weiner and Linda Sanchez. Another member, Gregory Meeks, will join the delegation in Mumbai.

Except for Crowley, all others in the delegation are visiting India for the first time.

"The US must be fully invested in the peace and prosperity of South Asia during these difficult times," said Crowley.

"With the international war on terrorism and the ongoing situation in Iraq, our commitment to South Asia is more important than ever before."

He commended CII "for putting together this exceptional programme to give the delegation a well rounded overview of the political, economic and cultural vitality of India."

In India, Crowley will address a number of issues that face India -- from Kashmir to strengthening bilateral trade ties.

The delegation's itinerary includes calls on Prime Minister Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Defence Minister George Fernandes, Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi and senior government officials.

The delegation will participate in the Partnership Conference on IT being sponsored by CII in Hyderabad.

It will also meet members of the National Association of Software and Service Companies and be hosted for a lunch jointly with NASDAQ, the US-based stock exchange.

An AICC statement on the visit of the New Jersey delegation said it planned to interact with chief ministers of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat to explore business possibilities. It will also hold talks with top Indian executives in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad in a bid to forge partnerships.



Source: IANS