Fewer east Indian cos respond to US meet so far

A lesser number of Indian companies from the eastern region have shown their inclination so far to participate in the upcoming SelectUSA Investment Summit to be held from June 20 to 22, 2018, in Washington DC.

Last year, participation from the eastern region was good as 10 companies were a part of a delegation comprising 60 firms nationally, US consulate general Principal Commercial Officer Jonathan Ward said.

"Out of the 67-odd respondents nationally so far for this year's summit, only four are from the east. We expect a higher level of participation as time is still there," Ward said at a news conference here today.

The SelectUSA Investment Summit is the highest-profile event dedicated to promoting FDI in the United States.

Several companies from this region such as Vikram Solar had made investments in the US, he said.

Other companies from the east which has presence in the US are IFGL Refractories, Usha Martin, RP-Sanjiv Goenka group, ITC Infotech, Tata Steel, Patton and EMC.

US consul general in Kolkata Craig Hall said many a private Indian educational institute like Techno India and JIS, which have operations in West Bengal, had shown interest in the US.

Hall said Indian rules does not allow US universities to come here.

On US tariff imposition in steel and aluminium, he said it was done for national security.