The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, had a “very successful” India trip and has instituted follow-up mechanisms on the country to strengthen ties, a top Obama Administration official has said.

Noting that the United States is ready to collaborate with India to deliver a truly digital country to realise “shared goals”, the Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Charles Rivkin, said this is a huge priority for both US President Barack Obama and John Kerry.

“Secretary Kerry had a very successful trip (to Ahmedabad). He had a fantastic meeting with the Prime Minister. He has instituted follow-ups in the State Department,” Rivkin said in his address to the ‘Digital India Roundtable’ organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Chase India.

“US fully embraces this transformational agenda” of Digital India of the Narendra Modi-led government, he said.

However, to achieve this would mean allowing the participation of outside firms on equal terms and without any restrictions.

“By removing these barriers, India’s IT industry would have direct access to the global supply chain. There is so much that our IT sector can bring to the table. It has resources, it has expertise,” Rivkin said.

America’s IT sector is also ready to support Indian initiative in the manufacturing sector.

“The stakes between the two countries are too high,” he said, while praising India’s commitment to building a business friendly environment.

“I believe that if this goes well we can help India realise its goals and to even greater economic growth,” Rivkin said.

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