By IANS,
New Delhi : The US Monday pressed India to dismantle barriers to foreign direct investment and ease procurement processes to increase bilateral defence and high-tech cooperation.
“India has embarked on a military modernization program, which is expected to receive $35 billion over the next five years,” Eric L. Hirschhorn, U.S. under secretary of industry and security, said Monday.
“We must find new ways to break down tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade that stifle cooperation,” Hirschhorn said. He added that US companies have got contracts worth $8 billion from India in the last few years, but stressed that there’s enough room to grow the business.
Hirschhorn was speaking at the eighth meeting of the India-U.S. High Technology Cooperation Group that was set up in 2002 for promoting dual-use high-technology trade between India and US by addressing systematic barriers.
Hirschhorn also held talks with Foriegn Secretary Nirupama Rao that revolved around issues relating to further easing of high-tech trade between the two countries.