'Mismatch in Indian procurement process & US license regime'

New Delhi, Jul 11 (PTI) Noting that there was a
"mismatch" between Indian procurement requirements and the
American license regime, the US business chambers on Monday
strongly pitched for finding "breakdown" in these procedures
and also recommended issuance of a list of "pre-approved"
technologies by the US to India.
Participating in the 8th meeting of Indo-US High
Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG), led by Foreign Secretary
Nirupama Rao and US Undersecretary of Industry and Commerce
Eric Hirschhorn, the companies from India and the US discussed
the commercial and business ties.
They made recommendations in the key areas of defence,
civil aviation, life sciences and nanotechnology which will be
taken up during the government-to-government dialogue
Tuesday.
Presenting recommendations in defence sector, US-India
Business Council President Ron Somers said "disappointed over
the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) procurement and
the fact that our companies felt that the challenge was from
our side.....the US government pre-approves technologies
that they will be willing to transfer to India.
"We want action to match the rhetoric. The rhetoric is
India has arrived, that India is a strategic partner of the
United States. Therefore, let's have a list of all
technologies that we are willing to transfer to India, so that
our countries can engage substantially with India....."
Somers suggested that four case studies--two from each
country--should be done to find out the "breakdown" in the
procurement process in India and license regime in the US,
including missile control regime.
In aviation sector, India would like to harness
opportunities in areas of aircraft and aircraft components,
air traffic management, aviation safety, security and capacity
building.