Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Meets with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke hosted a meeting with Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma at the Commerce Department today. This was the first official meeting between Minister Sharma and Secretary Locke.

Secretary Locke and Minister Sharma highlighted the growing importance of the U.S.-India strategic relationship and the role expanded bilateral cooperation in trade and investment plays in furthering it.

“We are committed to deepening our commercial engagement with India to promote economic growth and increase regional stability,” Locke said. “Keeping our markets open will help reduce poverty in India and reverse the effects of the global downturn.”

Secretary Locke and Minister Sharma pledged to continue bilateral commercial cooperation in order to address a range of market access issues and ensure a hospitable climate for investment between the two countries. On the day prior to the meeting, Secretary Locke and Minister Sharma both addressed the U.S.-India Business Council’s annual summit in Washington to review recent commercial successes and offer their vision for the future of the economic relationship.

To follow up on these discussions, Commerce will hold a High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) meeting with India later this year. In addition, the two countries will continue to meet at the working level under the Commercial Dialogue to discuss a range of issues significant to businesses on both sides. The Commerce Department is also considering sending trade mission delegations to India in the coming months.