Former USAF General to Advise US-India Business Council

Washington, Nov 3 (UNI) The US-India Business Council (USIBC) today said it has appointed (Ret) Lt Gen Jeffrey B Kohler, former Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) as its senior advisor to its board of directors.

The USIBC Board comprises prominent companies and individuals representing the spectrum of industries that are helping power India's impressive nine per cent annual growth rate.

USIBC chiarman Charles "Chip" Kaye and co-president of the private equity firm Warburg Pincus, welcomed Gen Kohler and said ''As Director of DSCA, Gen Kohler became a stalwart architect of a deeper, strategic partnership with India, visiting the country numerous times. We welcome his advice and look forward to working closely with him on USIBC's further engagement with India and on matters of strategic importance.'' The U.S.-India Business Council is the premier business advocacy organization representing 250 of the largest US companies investing in India and two dozen of India's largest global companies. USIBC's mandate is to strengthen US-India commercial ties.

''While I was with the US Government, I felt that USIBC as my strongest partner in our mutual effort to enhance the strategic relationship between our two great nations. After a long hiatus in the relationship, our two armed forces have realised that they have a great deal in common and are expanding their contacts,'' said Gen Kohler.

As a result, defense trade is becoming a major foundation of the US-India relationship. It is a distinct honor and privilege to advise USIBC's Board of Directors to continue to enhance this relationship as well as expand opportunities for US industry in India, he added.

USIBC is lobbying hard for a speedy Congressional approval of the 123 Agreement, even as India has put its civil nuclear deal with the US apparently on hold.

Last month the advocacy group's President Ron Somers had said USIBC remains confident that the nuclear deal will be successfully concluded, and at the same time look forward to working closely with Indian industry to mobilise investment estimated at 500 billion dollars for infrastructure buid-out in India over the next decade.

Lt Gen Jeffrey B Kohler recently retired as Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency in Arlington, Virgina.

UNI