IT tops Clinton's India agenda

IT tops Clinton's India agenda
ENS ECONOMIC BUREAU

NEW DELHI, MAR 18: US President Bill Clinton's business agenda during his visit is focussed on the knowledge based industry, US ambassador Richard Celeste said here on Saturday. Celeste said US businessmen were interested in making investments in fast growing sectors like information technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology and services.

"We see a growing convergence between the interest of both the countries in trade fields and a willingness to work together in areas where we have differences," he said, adding creation of bilateral institutions would help minimise these differences.

Amcham president Sanjay Bhatnagar announced a five-point agenda including setting up of special purpose consultation groups to provide the government a regular feedback on general and sector specific issues to augment inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Bhatnagar said Amcham, which has over 300 members in India, would use 87 of its offices in 77 countries to aid India in achieving its target of attracting $10 billion FDI per annum.

Amcham would be partnering with the Indian government to provide strategic and marketing experience to build the "India Inc" image brand overseas, he said. Amcham would also be actively involved in hosting a number of meetings with President Clinton and his senior colleagues.