The Hindu Business Line : Programme to educate US cos on Indian business

Support plan
The US Commercial Office would be doing the matchmaking through support measures.
The measures are feasibility studies and market research for partnerships with local companies as well as educational institutions.

Kolkata , Aug. 18

The US Commercial Office, which has for the first time established a significant presence in Kolkata, has chalked out a new programme to educate US companies, particularly the SMEs, on the business possibilities in India, in general, and West Bengal in particular.

Trade mission visit

Participating in an interactive session organised by the CII, Eastern Region, here on Friday, Ms Aileen Cowe Nandi, Principal Commercial Officer, USA, in Kolkata, said the largest ever (said to number over 100) high-profile trade mission comprising senior trade officials and US companies, mostly SMEs but also large ones, will be visiting the city in end October-early November this year to explore business opportunities.

Pointing out that the commercial office was still working on the final list of companies expected to be a part of the trade mission, she said most of them would be first timers in India looking to sell their products.

Among the US developmental institutions represented in the team would be the US Exim Bank, The Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the US Trade and Development Agency.

Ms Nandi said the commercial office would be doing the matchmaking through support measures such as feasibility studies and market research for partnerships with local companies as well as educational institutions.

`Brand Bengal'

Mr Sanjay Budhia, Chairman, Consular Corp Task Force, CII, said the opening of the first-ever US Commercial Office in Kolkata was quite in keeping with the recent observations of Mr Richard Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, here that "USA is looking at `Brand Bengal' with new eyes as there has been a lot of change in the State."

`Ties never better'

Pointing out that economic and commercial ties between the US and India have never been better, Mr Budhia said the US exports to India have registered a growth of 23.3 per cent during January-May 2006, while India's exports to US in the same period have registered a growth of 19 per cent.

Indicating that trade between the two countries was now on a significant growth path, Mr Budhia said bilateral trade during January-May 2006 had seen a growth of 20.4 per cent.

More Stories on : Foreign Trade | SSI | West Bengal

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page