Ease of doing business dramatically improving in India: US diplomat

Amid the NDA government’s several policy initiatives to enhance ease of doing business in India, a senior US diplomat applauded the government’s efforts saying, “It is dramatically improving under the incredible visionary leadership of Modi.” Improving the ease of doing business has been one of the priorities of the government since it came to the power in 2014.

Appreciating India for the progress made in this area, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles H Rivkin said that the ease of doing business in India has witnessed an improvement and there is significant momentum in the India-US economic ties. “There is enormous momentum behind the economic engagement between America and India and we are here to try and increase those numbers…,” Mr Rivkin said. The ease of doing business in India has been a major issue for investors.

Speaking about the level of economic engagement, Mr Rivkin said that it isn’t limited to clean-tech only, which was the main focus of his visit to India. He added that many more delegations would come from America with several other industries because “we believe in this opportunity (India)”.

Focusing on the business potential between India and US, Mr Rivkin said: “When President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of the $100 billion in trade and investment that exists, (which is) now going to $500 billion, some people were aghast what an extraordinary ramp up in activity…but the more and more I see and more American businesses I speak with, I am wondering if that level is high enough”.

Speaking on India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Mr Rivkin expressed support to the programme saying that the US wants to do everything to try and help. Praising India’s Prime Narendra Modi’s leadership he said: “Ease of doing business matters and from what I have seen it’s dramatically improving under the incredible visionary leadership of Modi.”

India and the US are focusing on climate change as a major area of cooperation. Elaborating on it, Mr Rivkin said: “Climate change is also an enormous opportunity. The solution to the problem of climate change is smart energy policy and clean energy investment is the great way to get there.”

India is wooing investors to be a part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative to make India a manufacturing hub. Speaking about innovation leading to jobs, Mr Rivkin said: “We are encouraging the policy and regulation that facilitates innovation, entrepreneurship at state and federal government level, and that facilitates job creation.”

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