Biden, Kerry, Sushma to kick off US-India dialogue

US Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will address a conclave of corporate America to kick off the first US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue next week.

Besides them, other high-ranking government officials and captains of industry from both countries, will address the US-India Business Council's 40th Annual Leadership Summit here on September 21.

The largest bilateral trade association in America, USIBC is comprised of over 300 top-tier US and Indian companies advancing US-India commercial ties.

"It's a privilege for USIBC to host government and business leaders from both countries on the eve of the US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue and on the occasion of the council's 40th anniversary," said USIBC chairman Ajay Banga.

"The founding principle of the council four decades ago -- which grew out of the vision of then US secretary of state Henry Kissinger -- remains even more true today: the world's largest democracies share a love of freedom and an entrepreneurial spirit that, if nurtured, can help realise the full potential of India-US relations," he said.

Banga is also the president and CEO of MasterCard, leading American multinational financial services corporation processing bank payments and issuing credit and debit cards.

"The US business relationship with India is one of the most valuable in the world, and we have seen great progress over the last 40 years," said USIBC president Mukesh Aghi.

"This level of bilateral engagement and commitment to furthering trust and cooperation has been one of USIBC's hallmarks for the past four decades and will be for decades more to come," he said.

The government-to-government dialogue at this year's summit will also include US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, India's Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal.

USIBC also honours business and government leaders for their commitment towards building a more inclusive global economy.

This year's honourees include Indra Nooyi, CEO and chairman of PepsiCo, and Shobhana Bhartia, chairperson and editorial director of the Hindustan Times group.

(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)