200 California cos to participate in Indo-US Expo

New Delhi, Aug 22: Over 200 top companies from California and 75 Indian business leaders participated on the first day of conference and Expo between India and the United States.

A high level delegation including Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai, Minister of State for Tourism Yashodhara Raje Scindia and Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs Ashok Jha is currently visiting California, to open new vistas for investment and trade.

Mr Sahai encouraged participants to look at the new India and explore possibilities of co-operation in thrust sectors of food processing, infrastructure, aviation and other knowledge driven areas.

''A combination of resources and brainpower will take Indo-US commercial relations to the next level,'' he said.

Ms Scindia said that 'reforms and the process of liberalisation has now moved to the states which are competing with each other to attract both domestic and foreign investment. California must look at many opportunities of investing into India in general and Madhya Pradesh in particular.

She also elaborated on the tourism and hospitality opportunities in the state focusing on four major tiger resorts destined to be a major attraction of the future.

A first ever study of Indian investments into the United States, conducted by FICCI and Ernst&Young was released at the occasion jointly by Mr Sahai, the Mayor of Los Angeles Cruz Bustamante and the Lt Governor of California Israel Hernandez.

The conference was organised by US- Asia Business Forum and supported by FICCI. Partnering the conference were the City of Los Angeles, US Department of Commerce and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce.

UNI