This Article is From Aug 30, 2016

John Kerry To Meet Sushma Swaraj Today, Economic Ties High On Agenda

John Kerry To Meet Sushma Swaraj Today, Economic Ties High On Agenda

US Secretary of State John Kerry will hold annual Strategic Dialogue Sushma Swaraj.

New Delhi: US Secretary of State John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker will hold the annual Strategic Dialogue with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today in Delhi. Pushing economic and trade ties is high on the agenda, as well as security and terrorism.

Mr Kerry, who arrived in India on Monday for a three-day visit, will co-chair the meet with senior officials from both countries.

India-US trade has been growing significantly, touching $109 billion in 2015 - a huge jump from $37 billion in 2005.

India will also make a strong push for more US help in securing membership to the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG.

The US has promised to push the bid at "the highest levels" before the next NSG meeting later this year. America is also keen for India to ratify the Paris climate pact.

Closer defence ties between the two nations are also on the agenda. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is already in the US to sign a key agreement on logistics support.

The commercial track of the dialogue will see a big focus on ease of doing business and a partnership on tourism.

Yesterday, praising the Narendra Modi government's efforts to push through the landmark Goods and Services Tax Bill, Ms Pritzker said India's rapidly growing economy and the government's reform agenda "point toward a deeper economic relationship in the years ahead".

She also named two new areas of focus that will drive the cooperation in the coming days - travel and tourism and subnational engagement.
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