Date:07/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/07/stories/2008100758750300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

‘Indo-U.S. relations on a positive trajectory’

Staff Reporter

U.S. Consul addresses meet in the city

KOCHI: The failure of the Doha round is an indication of persisting protectionist sentiments on both sides and they need to be given up to open up to create new opportunities for people, said Frederick J. Kaplan, Consul for Public Affairs at the U.S. Consulate in Chennai.

He was delivering a lecture on Indo-American Economic Relations here on Monday. The lecture was organised by Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.Mr. Kaplan, a lawyer by training and a career diplomat, said that Indo-US relations were on a positive trajectory.

These relations were built by people, the moving of people between countries.

Academics, professionals and business people built this people bridge, he said.

83,000 students

There are 83,000 Indian students in the U.S. educational institutions, the largest from any country and Indian Americans formed the best educated ethnic group in that country, he said. Indo-U.S. trade grew 30 per cent last year and U.S. exports to India grew 72 per cent, he said. Besides, the two countries were cooperating in areas like clean energy and farming technology, he said.

He said that India’s importance was evident from the way the U.S. Consulate strength in India had been raised.

A new one is being opened in Hyderabad.