U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke met today with India’s Ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar, to discuss bilateral trade and investment issues.

The meeting took place as Secretary Locke prepares to lead a high technology business development trade mission to India on February 6-11. Over 70 companies applied to participate in the upcoming mission, which will make stops in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, in order to promote U.S. exports of high technology products and services in key economic sectors: civil-nuclear trade, defense and security, civil aviation, and information and communications technology.

During the meeting, Locke advocated for U.S. fighter aircraft manufacturers, emphasizing that the U.S. government views high technology defense sales as a cornerstone of the U.S.-India strategic partnership and that the United States is a willing and capable defense partner. 

U.S. exports of goods to India are up 15.2 percent through the first 10 months of 2010 and projected to surpass $19 billion for the entire year – an all-time high.  Advanced technologies, including aerospace, specialized materials, information and communications technologies, electronics and flexible manufacturing systems underpinned this growth.

Overall U.S. exports to India were $16.4 billion in 2009, making India the 17^th largest export market.  Exports to India through October 2010 reached approximately $16.1 billion.