18-member US trade delegation to visit India next month
An American trade delegation, led by the US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews, will visit India next month with an aim to enhance bilateral engagements in the country’s technology, services, transportation and power sectors. “The trade mission will help US companies launch or increase their business in India, focusing on technologies, systems and services in the safety and security, intelligent transportation, water, wastewater, and power sectors,” US Department of Commerce said in a statement. The delegates from 18 major companies, accompanied by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Director Lee Zak and Vice President of Global Business Development at the Export-Import Bank Ray Ellis, will participate in the Smart Cities Infrastructure Business Development Mission on February 8-12, with stops in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. This engagement is expected to drive the sustainable growth of India’s infrastructure sector, while making India’s growing urban centers more attractive to business. “By joining the global consensus agreed to in Paris last month, India made clear that it will be an important part of the world’s solution to a truly global problem. US industry stands ready and able to help India make its cities more sustainable – an effort that will greatly benefit India’s economic growth and our world’s ability to address a changing climate,” Andrews said. Some of the prominent American companies that will participate in the mission include MasterCard, Qualcomm, Smart Cities Council, Milbank Manufacturing, Danaher Holding (DHR) and Aquatech International. India, the world’s third largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, is projected to add 500 million people to its urban population over the next four decades. The government has made infrastructure development a priority, along with a plan to develop 100 smart cities that would create sustainable economic development and high quality of life through efficient and innovative energy, transportation, digital and social platforms. To connect these proposed cities with existing air and sea ports, India needs infrastructure upgrades and technologies.
January 21, 2015 | 4:09pm IST.
to success.