WASHINGTON, DC – The Atlantic Council announced today its new trade initiative, aimed at boosting trade relations between the United States and India. The initiative, housed in the Council’s South Asia Center, will build on the momentum of President Obama and Prime Minister Modi’s ambitious goal to increase the trade levels between the two countries in the next ten years from $100 billion to a projected $500 billion.
On Monday, April 25, 2016, the Atlantic Council will host an event titled “Unlocking the Potential of US-India Trade” as the first public event of the Initiative. The event will feature US Senator John Cornyn (R-TX); US Senator Mark Warner (D-VA); Indian Ambassador to the United States Arun Singh; Atlantic Council Chairman Jon M. Huntsman, Jr.; and Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe.
“As the largest and oldest democracies in the world, India and the United States share a relationship built on common values. By further increasing trade between our two countries, we have an opportunity to strengthen our unique bond, advance American interests in the region, and grow both economies,” said US Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), who is also Co-Chair of the India Caucus. Echoing Senator Cornyn’s comments, the other Chair of the India Caucus, US Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) said, “Bilateral trade between the two countries already exceeds $100 billion annually. I hope we continue to work to harness the full potential of US and Indian cooperation to increase bilateral trade and provide more economic opportunities for companies in both the United States and India.”
“India and the United States enjoy a robust and thriving trade relationship which holds tremendous potential for the future in a number of sectors including renewable energy, infrastructure, smart cities, IT services, digital economy, and defense,” said Indian Ambassador to the United States Arun Singh. “The elevation of the Strategic Dialogue between the two countries to a Strategic and Commercial Dialogue is a testimony to the importance of our trade and commercial ties in strengthening our bilateral partnership. I welcome the Atlantic Council’s new trade initiative, which is timely and reflective of the new synergy in our trade relations.”
“The US-India bilateral relationship holds immense economic potential for both countries and should be a priority for the incoming administration,” said Atlantic Council Chairman Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. “The Atlantic Council is committed to playing an active role in promoting trade relations between the United States and India and helping cement a pathway for broader cooperation.”
The Atlantic Council US-India Trade Initiative aims to generate American support for continued economic engagement in India and to forge collaboration on issues of trade and commerce. In an effort to leverage, sustain, and promote the positive developments in trade relations between the two countries, the Initiative will develop policy briefs and strategy papers, convene US-India trade workshops, and host a flagship US-India Trade Conference with policymakers, practitioners, and private-sector leaders. The Initiative will address seven of the most crucial areas of the US-India trade relationship, including smart cities, infrastructure, defense, financial institutions, insurance, trade agreements, and intellectual property rights.
Please email press@AtlanticCouncil.org for more information about the upcoming event or the new initiative.