Nasscom hopes PM's US visit will sort out strategic issues

Information technology trade association NASSCOM on Tuesday said it hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi would push for investor-friendly policies and focus on cyber security during his visit to the US later this month.

NASSCOM chairman BVR Mohan Reddy and president R Chandrashekhar will attend some of the meetings Modi will have with industry leaders in the US.

"We hope the focus will be on strategic ties in cyber security. Both India and the US need to regulate policies to have an investor-friendly atmosphere," said Sangeeta Gupta, senior vice-president, NASSCOM.

She, however, said issues of immigration reform and social security would be discussed by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who was likely to visit the US ahead of Modi.

NASSCOM had earlier suggested the government discuss social security contributions made by temporary Indian professionals in the US.  India and the US do not have a totalisation agreement because of which temporary workers from India are required to pay US social security. "We hope that the US will consider waiving these costs. Cyber security is another issue the two governments will be working on during the PM's visit," said Som Mittal, former president and chairman of NASSCOM.

Taking forward his 'Startup India, Stand Up India' campaign, the PM will visit Silicon Valley. There are also plans of the PM meeting a large group of Indian-American entrepreneurs and executives in the valley. This delegation will be led by Naren Gupta, co-founder of Nexus Venture Partners.