PRANAB-US 2

"We have identified certain issues on which we should
work together. And this was the recommendations made jointly
by both Indian CEOs and the US counterparts – education,
infrastructure, clean energy, bio tech and health," Mukherjee
said.
"They also suggested what are the impediments in fully
exploiting the relationship between our two countries and a
breakthrough of the long term ideas," he noted.
Mukherjee said that after returning to India he would
"set up a committee, a small group, under Deputy Chairman
Planning Commission, who will co-ordinate with all the
concerned ministries on the issues which have been
identified..."
The committee would then "prepare a road map on what
could be done and what are doable, so that before (the US)
President's visit to India in November, both the leaders
(Obama and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh) are in a
position that these are the areas in which progress has been
made and what further progress could be made, that could be
known."
Mukherjee said that Indo-US relations were "moving in the
right direction" and the two contries would surely make
breakthrough in major areas.
"I am quite confident that in major areas we will be able
to make real breakthrough. Our relationship is expanding very
fast. Despite the slowdown, I think, both way international
trade is USD 37 billion."
Asked why India was not getting much US investment into
the infrastructure sector, despite it being a focus area,
Mukherjee said: "We require more. It is incorrect to say that
we are not getting. But we require more.
"Nearly one trillion dollar is the level of investment
which would be required. 25 to 30 per cent of which ... still
there is a gap. So this can be filled in by US companies,
particularly in the long term infrastructure, for long term
investment in road, shipping, communication, transport," he
added.
Asked whether the US counterparts in his meetings sought
more opening up on issues like taxation and liberalisation, he
said, "Certain issues that are pending, naturally they
emphasized on it. For instance the opening up of the insurance
sector, 26 per cent to 49 per cent, where the pending
legislation is there." More PTI