From rxpgnews.com
Lobby firms asked to develop 'roadmap' to enhance US-India trade
By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Apr 14, 2007 - 10:13:08 AM
Washington, April 14 - The US-India Business Council - has asked 22 Washington-based professional lobbying firms specialising in US-India trade to develop a 'roadmap' for trade and investment in India.
Included in the initiative to lead the two countries towards a successful Doha conclusion and eventually a free trade agreement - potentially the largest ever negotiated - is Patton Boggs, a firm championing the US-India civilian nuclear advocacy programme for USIBC.
'USIBC's greatest contribution to free-market democracy in the coming years - consistent with securing a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Round - will be to prepare and execute a 'Roadmap' that charts the course towards a Free Trade Agreement between the US and India,' said Ron Somers, USIBC president
'The ultimate goal is to unleash market forces supporting free trade and investment in a socially-sustainable manner. The ultimate goal is to create the freest feasible trade and investment climate between the US and India, one which protects respective national interests and is most-importantly inclusive,' he said.
Two-way trade between the US and India stands at a mere $32 billion. In contrast, two-way trade between the US and China is more than 10 times this amount, at $350 billion.
The 22 professional firms specialising in US-India trade to receive the Request for Proposal - are all members of USIBC comprising 250 of the largest US companies investing in India and two dozen global Indian companies interested in strengthening US-India commercial ties and deepen two-way trade.
'The US-India Business Council - is making US-India trade and investment its top advocacy priority for 2007 and is determined to dedicate USIBC's considerable energy and resources to deepening US-India trade, identifying and removing barriers on both sides, and clearing the way for a new era of trade cooperation,' the RPF said.
Recognising that months and years of dedicated effort will be necessary to meaningfully deepen trade and investment beyond current levels, the RFP solicits professional guidance and support for researching, preparing and defining, and then executing an activist agenda -a 'Road Map' - that charts the logical progression towards deeper, more robust US-India trade and investment, USIBC said.
USIBC has asked the 22 companies to send in their proposals by May 15 -- with contract award to occur by June 15 -- in time for USIBC's 32nd Anniversary 'Global India' Summit on June 27.
The summit will feature Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, Reliance Industries CEO Mukesh Ambani, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney, Warburg Pincus President Chip Kaye, and former Defence Secretary William S. Cohen, among others.
USIBC promises to include on the menu at this event for the first time Indian mangoes -- highlighting the fact that this fruit has been held up by trade barriers for the past 18 years, the business lobby said.
The Bush administration, working through the Office of the US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, together with the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of Agriculture, has cleared the way for Indian mango exports to the US this harvest season, it noted.
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