New Delhi
March 1, 2006

The Meeting of the India-US Economic Dialogue on March 1, 2006 is being held to review the progress of the Dialogue and discuss the next steps towards strengthening the economic partnership between the two economies.

The Dialogue is co-chaired by Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and his US counterpart, Mr. Allan Hubbard, Director of the US National Economic Council. 

They are assisted by Shri Shyam Saran, Foreign Secretary and Ms. Josette Shiner, Under Secretary Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, US Department of State. 

The Dialogue was established in 2001 to promote India-US bilateral trade and investment and closer coordination on the four tracks (i.e. Trade, Commerce, Finance and Environment) with institutionalized consultation with senior members of the Indian and US business communities who will provide private sector input to the Government level discussions. 

A Forum of 10 CEOs from each side was set up under the Economic Dialogue during the visit of the Prime Minister to USA in July 2005 which has been mandated to develop a roadmap for increased business partnership and cooperation. The Forum will submit its Report to the Prime Minister of India and the US President on March 2, 2006.