Dharmendra Pradhan calls India, US 'natural allies' at USIBC meet

Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said that India and the United States are "natural allies".

"India and the U.S. are natural allies and strategic partners with shared democratic values, individual liberty and freedom and law-abiding citizens. I can cite so many other social characters consciously took up by both the countries," Pradhan said at the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) meeting held in New Delhi.

The cabinet minister further asserted that there is a huge potential for enhanced India-U.S. cooperation in the area of skill development, Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

"USIBC could be an important catalyst for strengthening Indo-U.S. economic and financial relationship and developing stronger business connect," Pradhan said.

Pradhan, who also holds the portfolio of Petroleum Ministry in the Government of India, said shale oil revolution in the U.S. has changed the geopolitics of energy.

"Shale oil revolution in the U.S. has changed the geopolitics of energy. India has taken this as an opportunity to enhance energy cooperation," he said.

The minister hailed America for providing opportunities to talents from all across the world.

"From America, we learned to accommodate everybody, to give opportunities to talent from every part of the world and this has become the new reality of India," he said.

The USIBC is business advocacy organisation dedicated to serve as the direct link between business and government leaders of India and United States, in order to strengthen the economic and commercial relationship between the two countries.