American team to seek aerospace, defence ties with India

New York, Oct 12 (UNI) A high-level American delegation will visit India in December to explore trade opportunities in the fast-growing aerospace and defence market there, according to a news release.

The trade mission, planned by the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), an Arlington, Virginia-based body, and Tri Polus, an international trade consulting firm in London, is scheduled to visit New Delhi and Bangalore for six days beginning on December 2.

The Confederation of Indian Industry will be the local partner or the trip, being undertaken by 20 AIA member companies and planned by the association's Supplier Management Council.

It is the first time that the AIA is organizing a formal trade mission and it reflects changes in the America-India strategic relationship that has opened the market to aerospace and defense products.

AIA President and CEO John Douglass said the trip shows the global nature of the industry and the wealth of international opportunities for AIA members.

''This trip will be a catalyst to a stronger strategic and economic relationship between the US and India,'' the release quoted Douglass as saying.

Participants are slated to meet Indian commerce and defense ministry officials as well as key domestic aerospace companies. The objective is to familiarise American companies with Indian procurement procedures, offset policies and other factors affecting trade, according to Varun Nikore, director of Supplier Management.

AIA, which has an office in Washington, represents leading manufacturers and suppliers of civil, military and business aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and others. Tri Polus also maintains an office in the US capital and has collaborators in several countries such as South Africa, Brazil and India.

Close cooperation during the war on terror in recent years brought the two countries closer and they signed a 10-year defense pact last year. India is considering several America-manufactured products for large military purchases, and Air-India ordered for 30 new Boeing jets last year.

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