First ever Indian Mango Festival in Washington DC

Washington, Apr 5 (UNI) Lobbying efforts to bring a taste of the Indian mangoes to the United States is on so vigorously here that the US-India Business Council (USIBC) has decided to host the first ever 'Indian Mango Tasting Festival' as part of the Council's 32nd anniversary meeting here on June 27.

''The possibility of Mango export to the US assumes commercial as well as symbolic significance, as access to the global marketplace will benefit Indian farmers and consumers, together with their American counterparts,'' USIBC's President, Ron Somers, said.

''Council hopes to host in Washington, DC the first-ever Indian Mango-Tasting Festival this harvest season at USIBC's 32nd Anniversary 'Global India' Summit, beginning here on June 27, Mr Somers added.

Indian officials, along with USIBC members met US Trade Representative, Ambassador Susan Schwab yesterday to advocate for import of Indian mangoes to the United States this season.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath are expected to attend the summit.

West Bengal's Commerce Minister Nirupam Sen will lead a business delegation from Kolkata to attend the event which will be attended by captains of Industry including, Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani, The Boeing CEO Jim McNerney, CII Mentor Tarun Das, Wockhardt CEO and FICCI President Habil Khorakiawala, Warburg Pincus President Chip Kaye, AIG Vice Chairman Frank Wisner, Lockheed Martin's President, McKinsey's Rajat Gupta, Chevron's Mike Wirth, The Cohen Group's Chairman William S Cohen and BGR International's President Robert Blackwill.

The Bush administration, working through the Office of the US Trade Representative, the US Department of Commerce and the US Department of Agriculture is actively clearing the way for Indian mango exports to the US this harvest season. USIBC's member-companies are spearheading the private sector lobbying effort to ensure these exports.

On the prospects for import of Indian mangoes, Mr Somers added: ''The US-India Business Council will continue to advocate deeper trade between the two countries.

''We want to open new and exciting vistas for the people of both countries.'' Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Ayan Ali and Aman Ali will perform a on June 26 at The Kennedy Center -- highlighting the cultural ties that bind the world's two great democracies.

The US-India Business Council comprises of 250 of the largest US companies investing in India, joined by two dozen global Indian companies, whose common aim is to strengthen commercial relations and deepen two-way trade. The USIBC has offices in Washington, New York, San Francisco, and New Delhi. USIBC celebrates its 32nd Anniversary during the 60th year of India's independence.

Meanwhile US Trade Representative Susan C Schwab will lead a high-level delegation to New Delhi from April 12 for strategic trade talks and bilateral discussions with senior Indian officials.

Ambassador Schwab will Co-Chair the fourth Ministerial-level meeting of the US-India Trade Policy Forum with Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

The United States and India maintain one of the world's fastest growing major bilateral trade relationships and are committed to a goal of doubling bilateral trade to approximately 60 billion US dollars by 2008.

UNI