US-India CEO Forum to outline 'action-oriented' steps

Top Indian and US business and government leaders are meeting here Friday to work out "action-oriented recommendations" to boost the business relationship between the two countries, which both sides say is far below potential.

The meeting of the US-India CEO Forum will be led by India's Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, US Deputy National Security Advisor Caroline Atkinson, and US Trade Representative Michael Froman, along with CEO co-chairs Ratan Tata and David Cote of Honeywell.

Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns will welcome the group to the State Department, highlighting the important role the private sector plays in the US-India partnership, a State Department announcement said.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, US Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, and Under Secretary for Economics, Energy, and Agricultural Affairs Robert D. Hormats will also participate in addition to the American and Indian CEOs

Describing The US-India CEO Forum as "a true public-private endeavour to enhance bilateral trade and investment," the State Department said, it "gives US and Indian CEOs the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest and submit discrete, action-oriented recommendations to both governments for consideration."

The Forum was launched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then President George Bush in July 2005 and last met in September 2011 in Washington.

The forum comprising 10 selected CEOs from both countries is mandated to develop a road map for increased partnership and cooperation between the two countries at a business level.