The US Under Secretary of Industry and Security, Mr Eric L. Hirschhorn, has said that India and the US must continue their effort to eliminate policies that discourage research and innovation.

“We must find new ways to break down tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade that stifle cooperation,” Mr Hirschhorn said on Monday while addressing the eighth meeting of the India-US High Technology Cooperation Group.

Pointing out that India is a market in which US business sees great promise, Mr Hirschhorn said that greater ties offer advantages for both countries. Mr Hirschhorn added that the US was now looking to India to complete its remaining November 2010 commitments. “To strengthen its own export control systems so that we can continue this trend and realise the President and Prime Minister's joint vision to bring fundamental change to US export relationship with India,” he said.

The meeting had been jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, US Department of Commerce, US-India Business Council and CII and FICCI.

Addressing the meeting, the Foreign Secretary, Ms Nirupama Rao, said that the regulatory framework in both countries should evolve in a manner that facilitates trade and expands opportunities for collaboration in defence equipment and services.

The Foreign Secretary added that cooperation in biotechnology and life-sciences would not only enable us to realise the enormous bilateral opportunities, but also sustain our global leadership in this area.

In the civil aviation sector, Ms Rao said that we should look at innovative models to harness opportunities in aircraft and aircraft components, air traffic management, repair and maintenance, aviation safety and security and capacity building.

The Foreign Secretary said that there was need to focus on a few specific application of nano technology such as agriculture, water, healthcare, energy and environment.

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