India to set up panel for boosting eco ties with US

Washington, June 23 (PTI) India will set up a high-level
committee to identify areas for expanding economic ties with
the US, from where it expects an estimated investment of USD
250-300 billion in infrastructure space.
The committee, to be set up under Planning Commission
Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, would coordinate with
various ministries and prepare a roadmap before US President
Barack Obama's India visit in November, Indian Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee told PTI in an interview here.
India needs USD 1 trillion of infrastructure investment,
where there is still a gap of 25-30 per cent and can be filled
in by the US companies, Mukherjee said.
Speaking after attending a meeting of Indo-US CEOs Forum
here, Mukherjee said the US wants India to expedite relevant
legislative actions for economic reforms like opening up of
insurance, other sectors.
Terming his meetings here as very successful, Mukherjee
said: "My bilateral discussions with Secretary of the State
(Hillary Clinton) and the Secretary of Treasury (Timothy
Geithner) clearly indicated that they are interested in
widening and deepening the relationship between India and the
US.
"On the whole I say, this was a good visit and all the
meetings were successful." MORE PTI