USTDA Enhances U.S. Commercial and Economic Cooperation with India
May 11, 2018
(USTDA)
Nearly $300 Million in Multiple Commercial Contract Signings Concluded
Mumbai, India – This week, Thomas R. Hardy, Director of Congressional and
Public Affairs, wrapped up a week-long visit to India where he met with
high-level public and private sector decision-makers to discuss ongoing projects
and future collaboration.
Core to the visit was co-hosting the U.S.-India Aviation Summit with Minister
Suresh Prabhu, Minister of State Jayant Sinha and Secretary Rajiv Nayan Choubey
of the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation and the U.S. Ambassador to India, Ken
Juster. The Summit provided an opportunity for U.S. industry to conclude more
than $300 million in new commercial contracts that will strengthen the safety
and security of the Indian aviation market (see fact sheet). The contracts will
introduce innovative U.S. technology solutions to meet the increasing demands on
India’s expanding aviation ecosystem. Additionally, the Summit provided a
forum for high-level government and industry leaders from both countries to
engage in discussions to lay out a roadmap for future cooperation. At the
opening of the Summit, USTDA announced that it will host a series of visits to
the United States for public and private sector decision-makers from India’s
civil aviation sector. The visits will connect delegates with leading U.S.
technologies and solutions that can support India’s aviation infrastructure
development goals.
In addition to participating in the Summit, Mr. Hardy met with the Chief
Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis to discuss a recently signed MOU to
cooperate under the Agency’s Global Procurement Initiative that promotes
value-based procurement. In support of the State of Maharashtra’s progressive
approach to economic development, the GPI program will conduct a series of
trainings and workshops designed to introduce transparent, globally recognized
approaches to procurement that will enable the State to obtain quality
infrastructure based on value and not simply the lowest cost.
The visit also provided an opportunity for USTDA to review and evaluate the
impact of its support for smart city development through its Smart Solutions for
Smart Cities initiative. During Mr. Hardy’s meeting with Minister of State of
Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, USTDA received an update on its
ongoing smart city investments and heard about investments in smart cities
taking place across the country. The Agency’s work is supporting India’s
efforts to invest in technologies and solutions to better connect city services
ultimately enabling cities to be more responsive to their citizens, an area
where U.S. companies have unique solutions that can help India achieve its smart
cities goals.
In a meeting with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Hardy
discussed USTDA’s Cleaner Coal Initiative and Gas Infrastructure Exports
Initiative as well as ongoing projects with the Indian Oil Corporation and
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. The conversation addressed two reverse
trade missions USTDA hosted for representatives of the Ministry and state-owned
refineries – visits that ultimately led to follow-on projects for U.S.
companies as well as a Memorandum of Understanding between the Centre for High
Technology, within the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the American
Chamber of Commerce in India, which Mr. Hardy witnessed during his visit to New
Delhi.
“I appreciated the opportunity to meet with so many of USTDA’s partners in
India,” said Mr. Hardy. “At the Summit, we made tremendous progress in
charting a path forward on shared priorities in the aviation sector. I also
witnessed first-hand the impact of USTDA’s program and how it is helping to
introduce innovative U.S.-manufactured goods, services and technologies that
will strengthen the safety and security of India’s aviation ecosystem. I look
forward to seeing the future results of the connections made this week.”
While congratulating the participants at the conclusion of the Summit, Minister
Suresh Prabhu said, “This set-up of two very powerful institutions of U.S. and
India’s civil aviation leaders who will lay the foundation for an even more
active partnership and help increase the trade between two countries. I
encourage the industry to utilise these institutions of strategic importance to
expand their footprint and presence in India.”
Minister Jayant Sinha in his remarks talked about the billion flights and how
U.S. industry should seek more partnerships with India to help India achieve
this ambitious goal. He laid stress on manufacturing of civil aviation
components and drones in India.
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