Before he meets with President Obama on Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today addressed the business community at the United States India Business Council in Washington, D.C. Here he called upon American business to increase investments in infrastructure projects and agriculture. Dr. Singh said that American businesses are welcome to invest in “agriculture based businesses such in the post harvest segment including cold chains, agricultural marketing and food processing; manufacturing and mining; and of course services such as financial services, retailing and tourism.”
Prime Minister Singh expressed hope that once the Indo-US nuclear deal becomes operational it will remove restrictions on technology transfer and open up more business opportunities. He said that India’s “domestic private sector defence suppliers are now allowed to have upto 26% foreign investment, opening a new avenue for Indo-US collaboration in defence related activities.”
President Obama is scheduled to host his first State Dinner tomorrow with Prime Minister Singh as the State Guest. The two leaders will then have a meeting where are expected to discuss the nuclear deal and terrorism.
Related links: PM Manmohan Singh’s interview with Fareed Zarkaria.
