Indian firms need to get license for obtaining technology: US

Bangalore, Feb 8 (PTI) A month after removing ninedefence and space companies from its ''Entity List'', the UStoday said the Indian firms would still need to get licensesfor obtaining sensitive technologies.

On January 26, the US had removed nine companiesincluding the ISRO and four DRDO laboratories from its EntityList removing India from several country groups in the ExportAdministration Regulations resulting in the removal of exportlicense requirements that were tied to India''s placement inthose country groups.

"Well changes that we are making related to theEntitiy List don''t mean that all the export controls go away.

There will still be licenses for items involving sensitivetechnologies," US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke toldreporters here.

He was asked if Indian companies could get dual usetechnologies for developing weapon systems and platforms suchas the Arihant nuclear submarine after the removal of Indiancompanies from the regulatory list.

Locke said the license requirements were there for theclosest of US allies including German and the Great Britain toget sensitive technology systems.

"That would require a case by case look at what arethe components that are being offered or what objects arebeing sought," he added.

The US minister said the two sides would hold furtherdiscussions on the issue in his meetings with Indianauthorities in coming days.

Speaking on the occasion, US Ambassador Timothy JRoemer said the US government would also help India to becomemember of four major international groupings and wouldwork with the US Congress in this direction.