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| UPDATE:Obama asked to appoint a high-profile aide for India |
| Lalit K Jha/ PTI / Washington Jun 25, 2009, 12:07 IST |
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Noting that the Indo-US ties has lost the momentum seen in the early era of the Bush regime, a Task Force report today suggested President Barack Obama to include India as a G-8 member, open a new Consulate in Bangalore and appoint a high-profile aide for New Delhi.
"President Barack Obama should assign ownership of the bilateral dialogue to a high-profile aide and this person should promptly meet with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's newly-formed government to define a mutual vision for economic interaction in the years ahead," the report said today.
"The meeting should also prepare the ground for a productive visit to India by Obama, ideally during his expected trip to Asia later this year," said the report 'Enhancing India-US Cooperation in the Global Innovation Economy' which was released at the Capitol Hill by Congressman Howard Berman, Chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
A joint collaboration of the Pacific Council, an American think-tank, and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the report is co-authored by former US Ambassador to India Richard Celeste and FICCI Secretary General Amit Mitra.
Both governments, either through the High Technology Cooperation Group or a similarly-focused body, should undertake a comprehensive review of the export controls that still inhibit bilateral trade in high-technology goods and services and develop a joint plan for their maximum-possible reduction, the report said.
As the two new governments in New Delhi and Washington get ready to deepen and strengthen the bilateral ties, the report identifies 11 areas, which its authors say would take the Indo-US relationship to an altogether New level.
Observing that even as significant economic sectors in both countries are becoming intertwined, the political climate in the US and India is turning increasingly against such globalizing forces, it says: "It will thus require sustained leadership at the highest levels in government and the private sector in both nations to nurture and enhance the economic partnership."
Urging the two countries to take steps to fully implement the nuclear agreement, the report calls India and the US to sign a free trade agreement focused on innovation economy, and conclude an investment treaty.
Recommending the two countries to take steps to enhance science and technology cooperation, and strengthening energy and environmental cooperation, the report also calls for the need to launch the second green revolution in India, exploit synergies in pharmaceutical sector and foster Hollywood- Bollywood connections.
"In view of India's growing economic capacity and the important role it will play in addressing global challenges, it deserves a permanent seat at the G-8 table," it said, adding in concert with New Delhi, the US should begin preparing the diplomatic groundwork for India's full membership.
"New Delhi's absence from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation process is equally anomalous. Washington should actively campaign for New Delhi's admission when the current moratorium on new APEC members expires in late 2010, so that New Delhi is able to participate in the November 2011 APEC Summit that will take place in the US," the report said.
The report urges Washington and New Delhi to revive the US-India Science and Technology Fellowship that operated for a three-year span in the early 1990s.
Both governments need to improve the bilateral visa process for scientific researchers and, to help expedite review of visa applications from India's scientific community.
"Washington should consider opening a consulate in Bangalore, a key node in the global innovation economy that is without a formal US diplomatic presence," it added.
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