US can source FDI and tech transfer to India: Ashwini

New Delhi, Nov 8 (UNI) Wide ranging partisan support exists for the Indo-US civil nuclear deal and strengthening of bilateral relationship in all its manifestations continues to be a major priority of the US Administration, former US Secretary of Defence William S Cohen today said.

Mr Cohen, who called on Minister of State (Industry) Ashwini Kumar here, also emphasised on the enormous possibilities in the field of cooperation and technology transfer in various sectors.

During his discussions with Dr Kumar, the former Secretary underlined the need to further strengthen bilateral relations in the context of the major initiatives taken by US President George W Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to establish a strategic partnership between the two countries.

Mr Cohen, who served as the US Secretary of Defence in the Clinton Administration from January 1997 to January 2001, emphasised the importance of endorsement of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, which he felt would alter the paradigm of the Indo-US relationship.

Dr Kumar told Mr Cohen that considerable progress had been made in identifying major areas of economic cooperation in the recently-held meeting of the CEO's Forum constituted by Dr Singh and President Bush.

"More than 150 million dollars of FDI is required to complement domestic investments in the infrastructure sector so as to ensure double digit GDP growth," Dr Kumar said, adding that the United States could then be a major source of FDI and technology transfer to India.

He identified Advanced Electronic Technology, power, bio-technology, food processing, engineering and the automobile sectors as some of the thrust areas for Indo-US economic cooperation.

Both felt that acts of terrorism had vitiated peace and harmonious co-existence among people in various parts of the world and that there was a need for united global action against international terrorism.

Mr Cohen has been a three-term United States senator and is a recognised expert on defence, international and economic matters including government procurement.

He is currently the Chairman and CEO of the Cohen Group -- a Strategic Business Advisory firm based in Washington D C.

He is also a senior counsellor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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