Annual Report 2011 - 2012

in 2005. There have been 55 joint exercises so far, with six of
them (2 Army and 4 Navy) held in the year 2011.
India's defence orders to US companies reached a cumulative
value of over US$ 9 billion in the last decade. Important
defence acquisitions from the US, include the VVIPs BBJs,
C130Js, INS Jalashwa, LRMR Aircraft P8I and C-17
Globemaster III aircraft. Through regular interaction at
political and functional levels, the two sides worked to
strengthen cooperation through technology transfer, and
joint research, development and production of defence items.
Trade and Investment: India-US economic ties were
characterised by growing and balanced trade in goods and
services as well as a rising flow of investments in both
directions. Bilateral trade crossed US$ 48 billion in 2010,
registering an increase of 30 per cent over the previous year.
The two-way services trade was US$ 38 billion. The two
governments resumed technical-level negotiations to finalise
a Bilateral Investment Treaty in October.
Bilateral investments showed an upward trend. The latest
available figures show US FDI in India (until March 2011)
at US$ 9.5 billion and Indian investment in the US as US$
6.6 billion.
The Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, and Treasury
Secretary Timothy Geithener co-Chaired the second meeting
of the India-US Financial and Economic Partnership held
in Washington DC in June 2011. The Commerce, Industry
and Textiles Minister, Shri Anand Sharma, met US Trade
Representative Ron Kirk in Washington in June and the two
sides agreed to re-invigorate the Trade Policy Forum (TPF).
During their visits to the United States, Finance Minister,
Commerce and Industry Minister and Minister of Power
called on US investors to benefits from the opportunities
provided by the Indian economy.
The meeting of the India-US CEOs Forum held in
Washington DC on 22 September was attended by the
Commerce, Industry and Textiles Minister, Shri Anand
Sharma, the Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee,
Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, from the Indian
side and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and
Deputy National Security Advisor Mr Michael Froman from
the US side. The deliberations of the CEO Forum identified
the areas of clean energy; technology, health, agriculture,
and education; trade, security and aviation; trade and
agriculture; energy efficient buildings project for expansion
and deepening of business-to-business ties.
US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke led a high-technology
trade mission to India in February 2011. The delegation
included representatives of businesses seeking to promote
their technologies and services related to civil nuclear energy,
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The Americas
civil aviation, defence and homeland security, and
information and communications technology to India.
The issue of enhanced visa fee for skilled workers and high
rate of denial for business visas was consistently raised with
the US government at various forums.
Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation: India and US remained
committed to strong civil nuclear energy cooperation. Prime
Minister Singh and President Obama exchanged views on
India's Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages regulations in
Bali in November 2011. India reiterated its commitment to
ensuring a level playing field for US companies on the basis
of mutually acceptable technical and commercial terms and
conditions. US expressed strong support for India's full
membership in the four export control regimes, including
the Nuclear Suppliers Group in a phased manner. The High
Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG), the principal
forum for advancing India-US cooperation in advanced
technologies, including in dual use and strategic trade, was
held on 11-12 July, 2011 in New Delhi.
The last round of Strategic Security Dialogue at the level of
Foreign Secretary and Under Secretary Arms Control and
International Security, Ellen Tauscher, was held in Vienna
on 14 June, 2011. The dialogue covers wide-ranging issues
including disarmament and non-proliferation, membership
of export regimes, bilateral civil nuclear cooperation,
proliferation cases, FMCT and global security issues.
The United States' Department of Energy and India's
Department of Atomic Energy signed an Implementing
Agreement on Discovery Science in July 2011 that provides
framework for cooperation in accelerator and particle
detector research and development at Fermi National
Accelerator Laboratory, Thomas Jefferson National
Accelerator Facility, and Brookhaven National Laboratory.
The 4th meeting of the Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group
(CNEWG) was held at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in
July 2011. The Group developed an Action Plan focusing
on cooperation on High Temperature Gas Reactors and
Nuclear Safety in the coming year. Chairman, US Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, Mr Gregory B Jaczko, led a
delegation to India in November to discuss with Indian
officials issues related to civilian nuclear power safety and
standards.
The first meeting of the US-India Joint Working Group to
implement the MoU on Cooperation with India's Global
Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnerships was held in New
Delhi in October.
Energy Cooperation: US Department of Energy Deputy
Secretary, Mr Daniel Poneman, and Member, Planning