India, US to sign framework trade, investment pact on 17 March

India and the United States will sign a framework trade agreement to facilitate increased flow of trade and investment between the two countries, especially in the high-tech areas.

Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma

Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma will leave for New York on a three-day visit for signing the agreement. Sharma and the US trade representative Ron Kirk will sign the document.

Sharma is also scheduled to meet US secretary of commerce Gary Locke and secretary of agriculture Tom Vilsack.

Sharma is scheduled to meet US industry representatives as also representatives of the India Business Forum in New York.

India's foreign secretary Nirupama Rao is also scheduled to leave for the US on a six-day visit next week. Rao, who will embark on the US visit on 14 March, will meet top officials of the Obama administration to formalise plans for expanded bilateral trade in high-technology areas.

Rao will co-chair the seventh meeting of the India-US High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) with US deputy secretary of commerce Dennis F Hightower, on 15-16 March.
 
Regional and global issues of mutual interest are also expected to figure in the secretary-level talks. Rao's meeting with US state department officials will also lay the groundwork for foreign minister S M Krishna's visit to the US for the next round of India-US strategic dialogue.