Bohigian hopeful of US Congress approval to N-deal

Hyderabad, Sep 9 (UNI) Expressing confidence that the Indo-US nuclear deal will get the US Congress endorsement ''in time,'' US Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary David Bohigian today said India was viewed as a country with 100 billion USD market potential in the renewable energy space by global companies.

Mr Bohigian, who was leading a 14 US company delegation for the third US Clean Energy and Environment Trade Mission in India after touring China, told reporters here, ''I am confident that the US Congress will act in time to endorse the agreement.'' He said the United States had worked tirelessly to get the Nuclear Suppliers Group waiver for India.

Stating that renewable energy market in India was the largest in the world with abundant renewable energy resources, he hoped that very specialised US companies would get a significant part of the business opportunities India offered for global companies.

''We want to participate in the opportunities in India, which has abundant renewable energy resources. We expect increase in demand for solar, wind and nuclear power projects in India in the next two decades,'' he said, adding right energy strategy depended upon viable, safe, affordable and diverse energy supplies and nuclear energy was part of it.

Wooing investments from Indian companies, including small and medium enterprises, he said there was tremendous opportunity for Indian companies to invest in the US.

The participating companies, part of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climiate(APP) to achieve a reduction in carbon dioxide intensity and other green gas emissions and enhance energy security in the context of sustained economic growth, specialised in energy efficiency, renewable energy, resource mapping, energy storage, water purification and pollution abatement, he said.

''The 14 companies participating in this mission represent the cutting edge of the US innovation, which can boost India's efforts to meet its massive energy demands while improving the environment,'' he added.

''We are bringing some of the most exciting technologies to one of the most dynamic economies of the world. In doing so, this trade mission advances the goals of the President to ensure energy security, drive economic growth and address climate change through industry-led solutions,'' he said.

UNI SM ROY LPB GC1552