Dear
Reader,
Greetings. The
year 2006 has
been momentous
for Indo-US bilateral
trade. Starting
with the visit
of President George
Bush in March
and culminating
in the six-city
Indian tour of
the biggest-ever
US Business Development
Mission in November/December,
the year has been
packed with initiatives,
meetings, summits
and brainstorming
sessions involving
officials and
businessmen from
both India and
the US. A significant
milestone was
the passing of
the Civilian Nuclear
Energy Cooperation
Act in November
by the US Congress.
The current issue
of Indo-US Business,
in its cover story,
presents a detailed
account of the
India visit by
the US Mission,
led by Franklin
L Lavin, Under
Secretary of Commerce
for International
Trade. Veerendra
Bhargava managed
a brief interview
with Lavin to
extract a message
for Indian businessmen.
We highlight it.
A more important
development, as
mentioned earlier,
has been the passage
of the civilian
nuclear cooperation
act, and its subsequent
signing by President
Bush, which is
the focus of the
issue. US businessmen
have already begun
to scout around
for Indian partners
for setting up
joint ventures
to support scores
of civilian nuclear
reactors that
will be built
by India in the
years to come.
Seth Grae, President
of Thorium Power,
a US-based nuclear
energy company,
says that India
has the potential
to build at least
60 reactors of
1,000 megawatts
each, which could
require a total
investment of
up to $120 billion.
We carry a report.
A significant
agreement between
India and the
US covers cooperation
between the two
countries in agriculture.
US Ambassador
to India David
Mulford says that
the Indo-US Agriculture
Knowledge Initiative
(AKI) will lead
this country towards
an “Evergreen
Revolution.”
We carry a report
on the AKI's fourth
meeting in New
Delhi. The issue
offers a special
section on West
Bengal's economic
growth and its
roadmap for development
in various sectors
of industry and
commerce, including
IT/ITES. India's
phenomenal growth
in the knowledge
sectors of IT
and ITES has proved
that this country,
with its deep
roots in ancient
wisdom, has emerged
as the right strategic
partner for the
US, since both
nations are destined
to work together,
as the world's
two largest democracies.
We carry a detailed
report prepared
jointly by Entrepreneur-India
and New Media.
Besides plenty
of news, the issue
carries other
regular features.
Wish you happy
reading
Satya Swaroop
Managing Editor
satya@newmediacomm.biz
