November 13,  2002
New Delhi  

During his 12-13 November visit to Delhi, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Kenneth I. Juster led a senior United States Government delegation for a high technology commerce dialogue with an inter-ministerial Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal.  Under Secretary Juster also called on the External Affairs Minister, the Defence Minister, the Minister of State for Space, and the National Security Advisor.

The two delegations agreed to take concrete steps to pursue the commitment between Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Bush during their November 2001 meeting to stimulate bilateral high technology commerce towards realising their goal of transforming India - U.S. relations.

The U.S. delegation reviewed with its Indian counterpart the current state of bilateral high technology trade, including trade in U.S. controlled ‘dual use’ items.  The two sides recognised the improvement in this area and pledged to think boldly and creatively about steps that could be taken to further enhance high technology trade in a way that reflects their countries’ new relationship and common strategic interests.

The two Governments agreed to create an India - U.S. High Technology Cooperation Group, comprising senior representatives of relevant departments of both countries.  The Group would expeditiously work towards developing a new statement of principles governing bilateral cooperation in high-technology trade that broadly advances our relationship in this area, including addressing ways to increase trade in 'dual use' goods and technologies. 

The delegations reaffirmed their countries’ shared commitment to and common interest in preventing proliferation of strategic goods and technology. They decided to further enhance their export control cooperation.

The Indian delegation welcomed the U.S. offer to host the Group’s meeting in early 2003 in Washington D.C.  

For more information, contact:
Sunil Lal, Counsellor (Press & Information) at (202) 939-7042