Dear Reader,


Greetings. The civilian nuclear energy deal between India and the United States has been the single most important development in their abiding relationship in recent times. It has given both the countries a sense of purpose and opened avenues of unlimited business opportunities. Today, energy is big business worldwide. India, which needs to sustain its high rate of economic growth, requires enormous amounts of power. And in today's context of Global Warming, nuclear-power is the best option. The Indo-US nuclear deal, which has facilitated India's entry into global nuclear trade and commerce, has also opened doors to American industry to explore the joint venture opportunities available in this country. Indo-US Business is delighted to note that the recent visit to India of the high-powered US Nuclear Trade Mission has been successful. Steve Hucik, Senior Vice President, GE-Hitachi and leader of the Mission, said the deal has got off to a flying start going by the progress it has made during its five-day visit of this country. The cover story of the current issue of Indo-US Business highlights the Mission's accomplishment. Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) held its annual flagship event - the 5th Indo-US Economic Summit - from 7 to 9 January, on the theme, Looking Ahead: Consolidating Alliances, in New Delhi. The issue presents the Summit deliberations in detail. There is a candid interview with S.K. Jain, the newly-elected President of IACC, in which he espouses the cause of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). There are two more in-depth interviews from Kolkata, one with Amit Kumar Sen, Managing Director of the Eastern India Pharmacy Works Limited and the other with Ashim Dasgupta, Finance Minister of West Bengal. While Sen talks about the innovative initiatives of his company, Dasgupta stresses on the development of the SME sector in the State. Then we have news highlighting the opportunities that Indian auto component manufacturers are seizing in the wake of a downturn in the US economy. As usual, the issue carries plenty of Chamber news besides the regular features. We also take this opportunity to announce that New Media will be bringing out a Special Issue of Indo-US Business to mark the historic election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, which also coincides with the seventh anniversary of the magazine.
Wish you happy reading

Satya Swaroop
Managing Editor

satya@newmediacomm.biz