'USA keen on promoting clean energy in India'

Kolkata, Feb 25: The USA was keen on sharing its knowledge with India for promoting clean energy in this sub-continent, US Consul General Henry Jardine said.

Addressing Indo-Asean&Indo-US/Canada reverse buyer-seller meet, organised by Enginnering Export Promotional Council (EEPC), Mr Jardine said since the bilateral trade between the two countries was growing tremendously, especially the shipment of aviation and engineering goods, the US was interested in sharing its updated technology for production of clean and environment-friendly energy in India.

He said India possess huge natural resources, particularly the Northeast, for generating clean and environment-friendly energy from water, coal and other resources. Mr Jardine said the USA was looking for $ 60 billion trade with India by 2009, almost double from the present $30 billion.

He said a large trade mission from Los Angeles would visit Kolkata on March 8 and 9 to study business possibilities on deep sea port, IT, solar power, paper mills, entertainment industry and infrastructural facilites.

The trade team having 20 people from different fields would visit some areas to study the facilites and interact with captains of industries, including Bengal Chambers of Commerce and Industries.

EEPC (Eastern region) Chairman R P Sehgal said engineering export constituted the single largest commodity in India's merchandise export comprising a fifth of India's total export.

The USA had been the largest single national export market for India"s engineering goods. In 2006-07, India's engineering export to the USA was to the tune of USD 4.1 billion, which grew by a little of 30 per cent over 2005-06.

UNI