US firms' CEOs push for Indian reforms with Nirupama Rao

New Delhi, Aug 10 (PTI) India's new Ambassador to the US
Nirupama Rao Wednesday met CEOs of top American companies here
and said the two countries have to "reflect more deeply" on
common concerns with a spirit of understanding and
accommodation.
As CEOs of Boeing, Wal-Mart, Cognizant Technologies, GE
India and Coca-Cola pushed for further reforms in India, Rao
said India and the US have to address common concerns and look
for greater economic potential.
"We have to reflect more deeply on our common concerns,
enormous business opportunities and ability to take businesses
beyond frontiers, with a spirit of understanding and
accommodation."
The meeting was organised by the American Chamber of
Commerce in India (AMCHAM).
While the issue of further reforms and investment in
telecom, retail and infrastructure came up for discussion, Rao
said the government's economic agenda has to be guided by the
needs of the poor.
"Indian reform process cannot afford to forget the
underprivileged people and policy framework would focus on
bringing them to the mainstream," she said.
In his remarks, Boeing India President Dinesh Keskar said
India would need to acquire aircraft worth USD 150 billion in
the next 20 years, requiring big investment in airports and
traffic management.
He expressed the hope that under Rao's ambassadorship to
the US, "the content and tenor" of dialogue in the aviation
sector would improve.