Business Economics & Services Team
Obama to Open Up in India
If one goes by the media reports, the forthcoming visit of US President Obama to India as the guest of honor at India's Republic Day parade will be a game changer in many sense. The Indian newspapers, electronic media are competing amongst themselves to be first in coming out with new angles and agenda items that will crop up Obama's second visit to India during his presidency, the first being in 2010.
Undoubtedly, the visit has rekindled a wider debate amongst all sections of the people. Some ar over optimistic, some are just optimistic and a sizable number of people are skeptic about the visit mostly on account of the civic challenges that the Delhites have top face during the visit since the security arrangements are not not leaving any loopholes. Al;ready 1600 security personnel have arrived in Delhi and are combing every nook and corner the President is likely to visit in Delhi and beyond. Huge sanitation drives are on the likely hotels and public places the President is likely to stay or address meetings.
That apart, every day media is inventing newer items in agenda that will be thrashed at the bilateral meetings. A collation of such agenda is worth looking at. On the political front, almost all newspapers are unanimously opine that some strong words against terrorism, climate change etc. will be made by both heads of state and some statements that can bond together people -to -people contacts. The US President is clearly going to praise Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the fast track he has opened for taking the Indo-US partnership to a higher pedestal. That will go well for Mr Modi since there is a perception that his popularity is sliding a bit, which is quite natural since being in the office for seven months or so. The President also will be praising the Indian Americans in superlative terms for their contributions to the American society, particularly in the filed of business, science, research and public administration (a sizable number of Indian Americans are in Obama Administration).
The expectations in the economic front is very high and the media is lapping them up on a day to day business. Bereft of these speculative and imaginative narratives and descriptions and high pitched wish lists tossed by both sides, there can be some meaningful discussions both in the track one and two dialogues. The track one dialogue (government to government ) will focus on the vexatious issues like nuclear liability law, recasting of offset arrangements, early conclusion bilateral invest treaty, strengthening of rules, regulations and enforcement of IPR, greater market access to US agricultural products to India and of course greater cooperation between the two countries in defense sector.
The Indian side will ring to the negotiating table its woes like visa restrictions, greater investment by the US companies in sectors like insurance, infrastructure, urban development, energy and greater market access to the US for Indian products like textiles, ICT products and of course earliest conclusion of the Totalization Treaty, which will enable mostly the H1B visa holders to pay social security taxes either in India or in the US, depending on their convenience.
Admittedly, the presence of Indian companies in the US has substantially gone up in the recent years since many Indian conglomerates are upping their investment in the US. The investments are mostly in the IT and biotech sectors. India will ask for more facilities and concessions to the Indian investors as the US administration grants to companies run by minorities in the US.
At the end of the day, the three day visit of Obama will trigger a spate of discussions and dialogue and to expect all such debates to fructify into actionable maxims is asking for too much. Between two countries, which have intense and deep economic cooperation dialogue is a medium to consolidate the position and build on them , no matter how soon they become policy prescriptions.
Obama to Open Up in India
If one goes by the media reports, the forthcoming visit of US President Obama to India as the guest of honor at India's Republic Day parade will be a game changer in many sense. The Indian newspapers, electronic media are competing amongst themselves to be first in coming out with new angles and agenda items that will crop up Obama's second visit to India during his presidency, the first being in 2010.
Undoubtedly, the visit has rekindled a wider debate amongst all sections of the people. Some ar over optimistic, some are just optimistic and a sizable number of people are skeptic about the visit mostly on account of the civic challenges that the Delhites have top face during the visit since the security arrangements are not not leaving any loopholes. Al;ready 1600 security personnel have arrived in Delhi and are combing every nook and corner the President is likely to visit in Delhi and beyond. Huge sanitation drives are on the likely hotels and public places the President is likely to stay or address meetings.
That apart, every day media is inventing newer items in agenda that will be thrashed at the bilateral meetings. A collation of such agenda is worth looking at. On the political front, almost all newspapers are unanimously opine that some strong words against terrorism, climate change etc. will be made by both heads of state and some statements that can bond together people -to -people contacts. The US President is clearly going to praise Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the fast track he has opened for taking the Indo-US partnership to a higher pedestal. That will go well for Mr Modi since there is a perception that his popularity is sliding a bit, which is quite natural since being in the office for seven months or so. The President also will be praising the Indian Americans in superlative terms for their contributions to the American society, particularly in the filed of business, science, research and public administration (a sizable number of Indian Americans are in Obama Administration).
The expectations in the economic front is very high and the media is lapping them up on a day to day business. Bereft of these speculative and imaginative narratives and descriptions and high pitched wish lists tossed by both sides, there can be some meaningful discussions both in the track one and two dialogues. The track one dialogue (government to government ) will focus on the vexatious issues like nuclear liability law, recasting of offset arrangements, early conclusion bilateral invest treaty, strengthening of rules, regulations and enforcement of IPR, greater market access to US agricultural products to India and of course greater cooperation between the two countries in defense sector.
The Indian side will ring to the negotiating table its woes like visa restrictions, greater investment by the US companies in sectors like insurance, infrastructure, urban development, energy and greater market access to the US for Indian products like textiles, ICT products and of course earliest conclusion of the Totalization Treaty, which will enable mostly the H1B visa holders to pay social security taxes either in India or in the US, depending on their convenience.
Admittedly, the presence of Indian companies in the US has substantially gone up in the recent years since many Indian conglomerates are upping their investment in the US. The investments are mostly in the IT and biotech sectors. India will ask for more facilities and concessions to the Indian investors as the US administration grants to companies run by minorities in the US.
At the end of the day, the three day visit of Obama will trigger a spate of discussions and dialogue and to expect all such debates to fructify into actionable maxims is asking for too much. Between two countries, which have intense and deep economic cooperation dialogue is a medium to consolidate the position and build on them , no matter how soon they become policy prescriptions.
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