US the best partner for ‘Make in India: US official

india-us-relations-trade

Barely days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the US for his second visit, Washington has struck an upbeat note about partnering with New Delhi to spur the rise of India as an elite manufacturing hub.

“The United States is the best partner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s  Make in India” campaign. US produces the best ‘manufacturing exports’, India will have no better partner in its bid to make the country an elite manufacturing hub on the global stage,” said US Under Secretary of Commerce Stefan Selig in Washington.

Mr Modi is set to meet US President Barack Obama in New York on September 28 where he will be looking for reaffirmation of US support for Make in India mission. The prime minister is also poised to meet top corporate honchos and billionaires in New York and digital tycoons in San Francisco where he will make a renewed pitch for Make in India and Digital India campaign.

The overarching objective of PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign is to bolster the manufacturing sector in India by enlisting support of foreign investors and India’s key strategic partners like the US, China, Japan, Britain, France and Germany.  Foreign investors have shown a great deal of interest in the initiative by offering to set up manufacturing units in India. Indigenisation of India’s military-industrial complex through transfer of technologies is an integral part of Make in India mission. India has been collaborating with many foreign countries in defence-related areas. Russia has already promised to set up manufacturing of 200 Helicopters in India, which would be one of the largest manufacturers. 

“The most important goal in India-US long-term collaboration is increasing fivefold the annual bilateral trade from the current USD 100 billion to USD 500 billion”, said Mr. Selig. The US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue to be held in Washington on  September 21-22 will focus on four areas ranging from infrastructure which includes smart cities, strengthening India’s business climate, increasing trade and developing best practices around innovation and entrepreneurship.

“The world’s largest democracies share a love of freedom and an entrepreneurial spirit that-if nurtured-can help realize the full potential of India-US Relations,” Ajay Banga, US India Business Council (USIBC) chairman said.  Given growing bilateral trade, regular people to people exchanges, and a large number of Indian students studying in American universities, the defining partnership of the 21st century is set to scale new peaks in days to come.

Author Profile

India Writes Network
India Writes Network
India Writes Network (www.indiawrites.org) is an emerging think tank and a media-publishing company focused on international affairs & the India Story. Centre for Global India Insights is the research arm of India Writes Network. To subscribe to India and the World, write to editor@indiawrites.org. A venture of TGII Media Private Limited, a leading media, publishing and consultancy company, IWN has carved a niche for balanced and exhaustive reporting and analysis of international affairs. Eminent personalities, politicians, diplomats, authors, strategy gurus and news-makers have contributed to India Writes Network, as also “India and the World,” a magazine focused on global affairs.