PM to kick off US visit by addressing biz leaders

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Nov 16 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh would kick-off his five-day visit to the United States
with an address to the influential American business
community, which had a key role in the passage of the historic
Indo-US civilian nuclear deal.
The American business community has termed the Prime
Minister's decision to start the trip by addressing the top
leadership of the US business as "momentous occasion".
At the luncheon address to be hosted by the US India
Business Council (USIBC) and US Chamber of Commerce at the
historic Hall of Flag of the Chamber building--built during
the great depression--it is expected Singh would acknowledge
the significant role played by the Indian and the US
businesses in building the relationship between the two
countries.
It would also be an opportunity for the Prime Minister,
officials say, to formally thank the US business community for
the key role played in the passage of the civilian nuclear
deal.
The USIBC and Chamber of Commerce had hired lobbyists and
campaigned nationwide and at the Capitol Hill in favour of the
nuclear-deal.
With a membership of more than three million, Chamber of
Commerce is the largest business organisations in the world
and said to be the most influential one in the US. MORE PTI