Secretary Gary Locke will join President Obama in India this week, where they will work to deepen bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries on a regional and global level. Continuing to expand bilateral economic ties with India is an important step toward achieving the goals of the president’s National Export Initiative, which aims to double U.S. exports within the next five years in support of several million U.S. jobs.

While in Mumbai, Locke will participate in the U.S.-India Business and Entrepreneurship Summit. He will then travel to New Delhi, where he will give a keynote address at a Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the American Chamber of Commerce event.  In 2009, U.S. trade with India totaled $37.6 billion, and trade this year has already reached $32.4 billion through August.

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On the heels of Locke’s India trip, the department’s International Trade Administration (ITA) and Economic Development Administration (EDA) will jointly lead a Clean Technology Trade and Investment Mission to France and Belgium from November 29-December 4.  For the first time, community organizations will join U.S companies to explore opportunities to increase exports and attract foreign direct investment in the United States.  The trade mission will include 25 U.S. organizations and focus on the clean technology and green energy sectors. This will be the department’s 31st trade mission since President Obama announced the National Export Initiative.

The Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration has representation across the globe to help businesses start exporting, increase their exports and find business opportunities in foreign countries, leading to job creation in America.