The US, however, maintained that the visa fee hike is not targeted at Indian professionals and is part of an across-the-board policy change.
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India and the USA on Tuesday began the economy leg of their Strategic and Commercial Dialogue, with Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asking America Inc to join the country’s “Make in India” initiative.
The US assured India on Tuesday that it will look into concerns related to visa fee hike after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj sought a “just and non-discriminatory solution” to the problem.
Sitharaman, at a joint press briefing, said: “A number of recommendations made during the previous two editions have already been acted upon”.
Sitharaman first met with co-chair and her US counterpart Penny Pritzker, following which they presided over the India-US CEO Forum, that has Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry and Honeywell Chairman Dave Cote as the co-hosts. “We will also strengthen the partnership between Indian states and U.S. businesses” she added. “They can start the trade dialogue only after they come out from the European Union”, she told reporters.
Further she said that both the sides should identify and pick up some high growth potential hubs and facilitate partnership in other areas of technology and design.
The minister also said India is working closely with the U.S. and other key stakeholders in worldwide fora like the WTO, World Bank, IMF and the UN Security Council.
Bilkulonline.com, New Delhi, Aug 29: India and the United Kingdom on Monday discussed ways to boost bilateral trade in a new scenario following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union (EU).
As India unveils transformative economic programmes at home be it smart cities, Make in India, Digital India or renewable energy, the potential for doing business has never looked more appealing, she said. “We gave estimates as to what damage it has given to industry”, she added.
“Relations between the USA and India have blossomed and the Strategic and Commercial Dialogue has contributed to this”.
She also expressed hope that the United States will treat the issue of India’s membership of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum positively.
On APEC, Swaraj said India’s membership at the forum has both “strategic significance as it has commercial potential” for India.
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The US has entered into this agreement with several nations for the goal of avoiding double taxation of income with respect to social security taxes.
