Congress looks for positive outcomes between India, US during Prez Obama's visit

The Congress party on Saturday stated that it is looking for positive outcomes between New Delhi and Washington DC during the upcoming visit of US President Barack Obama, adding that being two largest democracies, the two nations can benefit by a mutual partnership in key areas.

"This is an important visit. India and the US have invested a lot. The US and India are the two largest democracies. America is also India's strategic partner and we look at the area of science, space, agriculture even nuclear science," said Congress leader Anand Sharma.

"We would also expect some positive outcomes and some concerns of India to be addressed on the H1B1 visas on the L1 visas where there has been a hike in fee and also the number, the quota which gets exhausted in less than 3 days. It needs a serious relook because Indian IT industry has given both value and jobs to the USA and they have generated jobs for American citizens in America and that has been an area of concern for us," he added.

The former Union Minister further stated that Washington DC needs to address the social security contributions of Indian professionals in the US.

"The social security contributions by the Indian professionals close to two billion dollars annually. Now, the totalisation agreement will ensure that when the professionals come back they get social security contributions back. US has not addressed it so far," he said.

"We also hope that there will be an investment treaty signed and there will be no concession when it comes to our pharmaceutical industry Indian generic medicines particularly with regard to the pressure, the aggressive lobbying by multinationals," he added.

While stating that India should remain steadfast with regards to WTO trips agreements, Sharma further said that American companies welcome to participate in manufacturing in India.

"When it comes to intellectual property issues India's laws are fully compliant with the international treaty the trips agreement with WTO. India has throughout opposed any demand when it comes to trips plus and India should remain steadfast there," he said.

"Also in the defence, as we have said it cannot be exclusively only a seller/buyer relationship. We are promoting private sector participation in India's defence manufacturing and American companies is there welcome they should also manufacture systems and bring in latest of technologies for manufacturing in India," he added.

President Obama, who will arrive in the national capital on January 25 to take part in this year's Republic Day celebrations, will be the first U.S. President to attend the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.

Obama, who visited India in 2010, will also be the first U.S. President to visit the country twice while in office.