Develop an ecosystem that protects IP: US industry to FM

They urged him to lift the FDI caps in important sectors like insurance and defence

Seeking an ecosystem in India that rewards and protects intellectual property, the US industry has urged Finance Minister P Chidambaram to lift the FDI caps in important sectors like insurance and defence.

In a meeting with the FM, which was closed to the press, a group of US industry executives from the US-India Business Council (USIBC) sought adjustment in the retail policy to attract major investment and organised players into India.

However, the views of Chidambaram, who is currently in the US, were not immediately known.

Chidambaram engaged with the executives on important topics that have dominated the bilateral commercial relationship in recent months -- tax treatment of investments in India, and the protection of intellectual property (IP) -- the USIBC said in a press statement.

The group noted that collaboration in innovative technologies will require an ecosystem that rewards and protects IP and discussed the need for improvements to infrastructure and increased investment in defence and energy.

USIBC advocated for the lifting of FDI caps in important sectors like insurance and defence, and for adjustment of the retail policy to attract major investment and organised players into India, the press note said.

"The Finance Minister affirmed the strong ties between India and the United States and the importance of the commercial relationship," USIBC President Ron Somers said.

He said that bilateral trade of $500 billion between two the countries by 2020 is an achievable goal if they work together in partnership in an environment that provides predictability, consistency, and transparency.

"Outstanding issues will be resolved through constructive dialogue, and USIBC looks forward to working with India to enable such dialogue," Somers said.

On India's push to develop local manufacturing, the group emphasised that market-based incentives rather than mandates should be the drivers that attract manufacturing, it said.

While appreciating the progress made to date on the manufacturing policy, the executives recommended that India make clear that the private sector is excluded from any localisation requirements.