Thaindian News

Washington, Sep 17 (IANS) India’s Ambassador to the US, Nirupama Rao, has asked the US and Indian businesses to forge stronger ties taking a long term view of the vast opportunities offered by India’s growth.

In a an interactive session Friday with 25 top representatives of the CII-India Business Forum (CII-IBF), she appreciated the forum’s role in strengthening India-US economic relationship with trade, investment and technology partnerships with US companies.

Taking stock of the issues and challenges, including visa and market access problems that Indian businesses face in the US, Rao offered the embassy’s full assistance in constructively addressing them.

Formed in 2006, the 31-member forum includes top Indian companies such as TCS, Wipro, Infosys, ICICI Bank and L&T.;

At another interaction earlier this week at the US-India Business Council, which has a membership of 380 companies, including 24 Indian companies, Rao again conveyed a strong message of a positive and expanding India-US relationship which has transcended to strategic.

Detailing the commercial and business opportunities offered by India’s economic growth, she urged US companies to take a long-term view of cooperation with India.

At an interaction with USIBC Board members, chaired by former US defence secretary William Cohen, the participants assessed the opportunities, issues and challenges in the India-US relationship and approaches to advance their business ties.

USIBC represents the US private sector in several bilateral mechanisms, including High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG), Defence Procurement and Production Group (DPPG) and the working group on Information and Communication Technology.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)