New Delhi, 1 October 2014

Communication received from the US government. The fact sheet part narrates concrete outcome of Indian Prime Minister and US President summit in Washington:

September 30, 2014
U.S.-India Joint Statement

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and the President of the United States of America Barack Obama met this morning. Marking their first bilateral summit, the President recognized the Prime Minister’s historic election victory in the largest democratic election ever held.

The two leaders extolled the broad strategic and global partnership between the United States and India, which will continue to generate greater prosperity and security for their citizens and the world. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the priority India accords to its partnership with the United States, a principal partner in the realization of India’s rise as a responsible, influential world power. Given the shared values, people-to-people ties, and pluralistic traditions, President Obama recognized that India’s rise as a friend and partner is in the United States’ interest. They endorsed the first “Vision Statement for the Strategic Partnership” as a guide to strengthen and deepen cooperation in every sector for the benefit of global stability and people’s livelihoods over the next ten years. They committed to a new mantra for the relationship, “Chalein Saath Saath: Forward Together We Go.”

The two leaders recognized that the bilateral relationship enjoys strong support in both countries, which has allowed the strategic partnership to flourish even as the governments change. Welcoming the wide range of collaborative activities undertaken to improve their citizens’ lives, both leaders agreed to revitalize the existing partnership and find new areas for collaboration and mutual benefit.

Economic Growth

Noting that two-way trade has increased fivefold since 2001 to nearly $100 billion, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi committed to facilitate the actions necessary to increase trade another fivefold. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi recognized that U.S. and Indian businesses have a critical role to play in sustainable, inclusive, and job-led growth and development.

In order to raise investment by institutional investors and corporate entities, the leaders pledged to establish an Indo-U.S. Investment Initiative led by the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Treasury, with special focus on capital market development and financing of infrastructure. They pledged to establish an Infrastructure Collaboration Platform convened by the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Commerce to enhance participation of U.S. companies in infrastructure projects in India.

In this context, the U.S. government welcomes India’s offer for U.S. industry to be the lead partner in developing smart cities in Ajmer (Rajasthan), Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh). The Prime Minister will welcome two trade missions in 2015 focused on meeting India’s infrastructure needs with U.S. technology and services.

They also committed to a new partnership to advance the Prime Minister’s goal of improved access to clean water and sanitation for all. USAID, through the Urban India Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Alliance, will serve as knowledge partner to help leverage private and civil society innovation, expertise, and technology, such as with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to support the Prime Minister’s 500 Cities National Urban Development Mission and Clean India Campaign.

The President welcomed the Prime Minister’s ambitious plan to extend basic financial services to all its citizens, giving them powerful tools to manage their finances and more fully participate in India’s growing economy. The President and Prime Minister underlined the important contribution that U.S. locomotive technology, equipment to monitor rail system assets, and U.S. best practices can play in modernizing India’s vast railway network, including accessing programs of U.S. Trade and Development Agency in this work.

The leaders discussed their concerns about the current impasse in the World Trade Organization and its effect on the multilateral trading system, and directed their officials to consult urgently along with other WTO members on the next steps. The leaders committed to work through the Trade Policy Forum to promote a business environment attractive for companies to invest and manufacture in India and in the United States. Agreeing on the need to foster innovation in a manner that promotes economic growth and job creation, the leaders committed to establish an annual high-level Intellectual Property (IP) Working Group with appropriate decision-making and technical-level meetings as part of the Trade Policy Forum. They recognized in particular the contribution of the Indian and U.S. Information Technology (IT) industry and the IT-enabled service industry in strengthening India-U.S. trade and investment relations.

The two leaders committed to hold public-private discussions in early 2015 under the Commercial Dialogue on new areas of cooperation, including innovation in advanced manufacturing. In order to share best practices in manufacturing and work toward greater harmonization of standards, the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership program will start a dialogue with Indian counterparts. The two countries plan to work expeditiously through several joint initiatives to facilitate greater confidence in cross-border trade and investment.

The President also offered to support the Prime Minister to achieve his goal of preparing young Indians for 21stcentury jobs through new partnerships to share expertise and global standards for skills development in India, including by reinvigorating the Higher Education Dialogue.

The leaders look forward to the annual U.S.-India Economic and Financial Partnership in early 2015. They also welcomed the expansion of the partnership in oversight of financial institutions, including between Reserve Bank of India and the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. They also agreed to reinvigorate the India-U.S. CEO Forum, and welcomed India’s offer to host the Forum for the second time in early 2015.

Energy and Climate Change

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to implement fully the U.S.-India civil nuclear cooperation agreement. They established a Contact Group on advancing the implementation of civil nuclear energy cooperation in order to realize early their shared goal of delivering electricity from U.S.-built nuclear power plants in India. They looked forward to advancing the dialogue to discuss all implementation issues, including but not limited to administrative issues, liability, technical issues, and licensing to facilitate the establishment of nuclear parks, including power plants with Westinghouse and GE-Hitachi technology.

Recognizing the critical importance of increasing energy access, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and improving resilience in the face of climate change, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi agreed to a new and enhanced strategic partnership on energy security, clean energy, and climate change. They agreed to strengthen and expand the highly successful U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) through a series of priority initiatives, including a new Energy Smart Cities Partnership to promote efficient urban energy infrastructure; a new program to scale-up renewable energy integration into India’s power grid; cooperation to support India’s efforts to upgrade its alternative energy institutes and to develop new innovation centers; an expansion of the Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) program to unlock additional private sector investment and accelerate the deployment of cost-effective, super-efficient appliances; and the formation of a new Clean Energy Finance Forum to promote investment and trade in clean energy projects.

Both leaders are committed to working towards a successful outcome in Paris in 2015 of the conference of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including the creation of a new global agreement on climate change.

The leaders recalled previous bilateral and multilateral statements on the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). They recognized the need to use the institutions and expertise of the Montreal Protocol to reduce consumption and production of HFCs, while continuing to report and account for the quantities reduced under the UNFCCC. They pledged to urgently arrange a meeting of their bilateral task force on HFCs prior to the next meeting of the Montreal Protocol to discuss issues such as safety, cost, and commercial access to new or alternative technologies to replace HFCs. The two sides would thereafter cooperate on next steps to tackle the challenge posed by HFCs to global warming.

They launched a new U.S.-India Partnership for Climate Resilience to advance capacity for climate adaptation planning, and a new program of work on air quality aimed at delivering benefits for climate change and human health.

They also launched a new U.S.-India Climate Fellowship Program to build long-term capacity to address climate change-related issues in both countries. The President and Prime Minister instructed their senior officials to work through the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue, U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Combating Climate Change, and other relevant fora to advance these and other initiatives.

The leaders welcomed the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Export-Import Bank and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency, which would make up to $1 billion in financing available to bolster India’s efforts to transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient energy economy, while boosting U.S. renewable energy exports to India. The two leaders reiterated the importance of conserving India’s precious biodiversity and agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration on national parks and wildlife conservation.

Defense and Homeland Security Cooperation

The Prime Minister and the President stated their intention to expand defense cooperation to bolster national, regional, and global security. The two leaders reaffirmed that India and the United States would build an enduring partnership in which both sides treat each other at the same level as their closest partners, including defense technology transfers, trade, research, co-production, and co-development.

To facilitate deeper defense cooperation, they welcomed the decision to renew for ten more years the 2005 Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship and directed their defense teams to develop plans for more ambitious programs and activities. The two leaders also agreed to reinvigorate the Political-Military Dialogue and expand its role to serve as a wider dialogue on export licensing, defense cooperation and strategic cooperation.

The leaders welcomed the first meeting under the framework of the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative in September 2014 and endorsed its decision to establish a Task Force to expeditiously evaluate and decide on unique projects and technologies which would have a transformative impact on bilateral defense relations and enhance India’s defense industry and military capabilities.

The President and Prime Minister welcomed cooperation in the area of military education and training, and endorsed plans for the United States to cooperate with India’s planned National Defence University. They also decided to expand military-to-military partnerships including expert exchanges, dialogues, and joint training and exercises. They also committed to enhancing exchanges of civilian and military intelligence and consultation.

The leaders agreed to intensify cooperation in maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation and unimpeded movement of lawful shipping and commercial activity, in accordance with accepted principles of international law. To achieve this objective, the two sides considered enhancing technology partnerships for India’s Navy including assessing possible areas of technology cooperation. They also agreed to upgrade their existing bilateral exercise MALABAR.

The leaders reaffirmed their deep concern over the continued threat posed by terrorism, most recently highlighted by the dangers presented by the ISIL, and underlined the need for continued comprehensive global efforts to combat and defeat terrorism. The leaders stressed the need for joint and concerted efforts, including the dismantling of safe havens for terrorist and criminal networks, to disrupt all financial and tactical support for networks such as Al Qaeda, Lashkar-e Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, the D-Company, and the Haqqanis. They reiterated their call for Pakistan to bring the perpetrators of the November 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai to justice.

They pledged to enhance criminal law enforcement, security, and military information exchanges, and strengthen cooperation on extradition and mutual legal assistance. Through operational cooperation through their law enforcement agencies, they aimed to prevent the spread of counterfeit currency and inhibit the use of cyberspace by terrorists, criminals, and those who use the internet for unlawful purposes, and to facilitate investigation of criminal and terrorist activities. The leaders also committed to identify modalities to exchange terrorist watch lists. President Obama pledged to help India counter the threat of improvised explosive devices with information and technology. The leaders committed to pursue provision of U.S.-made mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles to India.

The President and Prime Minister looked forward to easing travel between their two countries, as India introduces visa-on-arrival for U.S. citizens in 2015 and works toward meeting the requirements to make the United States’ Global Entry Program available to Indian citizens.

High Technology, Space and Health Cooperation

Fundamental science and high technology cooperation has been a critical pillar of the strategic partnership, the two leaders confirmed, and they looked forward to renewing the Science and Technology Agreement in order to expand joint activities in innovative technology. The Prime Minister welcomed the United States as a partner country, for the first time, at India’s annual Technology Summit in November 2014. In addition, they committed to convene the ninth High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG). They plan to launch new partnerships to source and scale innovation for the benefit of citizens in both countries and to harness innovation to solve global development challenges.

The President welcomed India’s contribution and cooperation on high-energy physics and accelerator research and development with the U.S. Department of Energy. The President thanked the Prime Minister for his offer to have U.S. institutions partner with a new Indian Institute of Technology.

The leaders committed to partner on the Digital India initiative, with the goal of enhancing digital infrastructure, deploying e-governance and e-services, promoting industry collaboration, and digitally empowering India’s citizens. The President welcomed India’s proposal to establish the Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN, or Knowledge) under which India would invite and host up to 1,000 American academics each year to teach in centrally-recognized Indian Universities, at their convenience.

The two leaders exchanged congratulations on the successful entry into orbit of their respective Mars missions, which occurred two days apart. They welcomed the establishment and planned first meeting of the NASA-ISRO Mars Joint Working Group under the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group. The leaders also look forward to the successful conclusion of a new agreement to support the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, to be launched in 2021.

The United and India also intend to start a new dialogue on maintaining long-term security and sustainability of the outer space environment, including space situational awareness and collision avoidance in outer space.

The President and Prime Minister recognized the extensive ongoing cooperation in the health sector which they will put to use in preventing the spread of the Ebola virus. The President welcomed India’s contribution to the UN Fund and donation of protective gear to the effort against Ebola, and thanked the Prime Minister for encouraging Indian-owned businesses in West Africa to contribute to the fight against Ebola. The Prime Minister also offered to deploy Indian expertise in the fight against Ebola, including by investing its resources in producing modelling of the spread of the disease, jointly producing rapid deployable diagnostics, and considering joint training of response personnel. The United States stands ready to amplify India’s efforts to achieve a further reduction in preventable child and maternal deaths, including replicating India’s successful approaches in other countries.

The leaders agreed to launch a new phase of the India-U.S. Vaccine Action Program to develop affordable vaccines for dengue, malaria, and tuberculosis, and the establishment of an adjuvant development center. They also agreed in principle to initiate cooperative activities to increase capacity in cancer research and patient care delivery, including by developing collaborative programs for and with India’s upcoming AIIMS-National Cancer Institute. The President welcomed India’s offer to take a leading role in the Global Health Security Agenda.

Global Issues and Regional Consultations

Highlighting their shared democratic values, the President and Prime Minister recognized the critical role that women play in India and the United States, as shown by India’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (“Save Daughters, Celebrate Daughters, Educate Daughters”) initiative. They looked forward to holding a Women Empowerment Dialogue in order to exchange best practices to enhance the role of women in their countries, and they asserted zero tolerance for violence against women.

As a critical step in strengthening global nonproliferation and export control regimes, the President and Prime Minister committed to continue work towards India’s phased entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Australia Group. The President affirmed that India meets MTCR requirements and is ready for membership in the NSG. He supported India’s early application and eventual membership in all four regimes.

As active participants in the Nuclear Security Summit process, the United States and India welcomed progress toward reducing the risk of terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons or related materials, and noted their shared commitment to improving nuclear security nationally and globally. They reviewed their bilateral dialogue on nuclear security and endorsed working through India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership to reinforce safe and secure use of nuclear energy worldwide. They also pledged to strengthen their efforts to forge a partnership to lead global efforts for non-proliferation of WMDs, to reduce the salience of nuclear weapons in international affairs, and to promote universal, verifiable, and non-discriminatory global nuclear disarmament.

Noting India’s “Act East” policy and the United States’ rebalance to Asia, the leaders committed to work more closely with other Asia Pacific countries through consultations, dialogues, and joint exercises. They underlined the importance of their trilateral dialogue with Japan and decided to explore holding this dialogue among their Foreign Ministers.

The President and Prime Minister emphasized the need to accelerate infrastructure connectivity and economic development corridors for regional economic integration linking South, Southeast, and Central Asia. The President reiterated that the United States, through its New Silk Road and India-Pacific Economic Corridor, is promoting the linkage of India to its neighbors and the wider region to enable a freer flow of commerce and energy.

The President and Prime Minister noted the success of their countries’ collaboration on agricultural innovation in three African countries. They announced a new agreement to expand joint development initiatives in third countries in a range of sectors, including agricultural productivity, clean energy, health, women’s empowerment, and disaster preparedness. They also look forward to continuing the productive cooperation in Afghanistan on promoting women’s economic empowerment.

The Prime Minister and the President reaffirmed their shared interest in preserving regional peace and stability, which are critical to the Asia Pacific region’s continued prosperity. The leaders expressed concern about rising tensions over maritime territorial disputes, and affirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea. The Prime Minister and President called on all parties to avoid the use, or threat of use, of force in advancing their claims. The two leaders urged the concerned parties to pursue resolution of their territorial and maritime disputes through all peaceful means, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

India and the United States pledged to consult closely on global crises, especially unfolding events in Syria and Iraq. The two leaders committed to exchange information about nationals returning from these conflict zones, and to seek cooperation in protecting and responding to the needs of civilians stranded in the middle of these conflicts.

Recognizing the importance of their respective strategic partnerships with Afghanistan, the leaders asserted the importance of a sustainable, inclusive, sovereign, and democratic political order in Afghanistan, and committed to continue close consultations and cooperation in support of Afghanistan’s future.

They stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the serious concerns of the international community regarding Iran’s nuclear program, and called on Iran to comply with its UN Security Council-imposed obligations and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The two leaders expressed concerns over the continued development by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, including its uranium enrichment activities. They urged DPRK to take concrete actions toward denuclearization and other goals, as well as to comply fully with all its international obligations, including all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and to fulfill its commitments under the 2005 Joint Statement of the Six-Party Talks.

The President expressed appreciation for the contributions of Indian peacekeepers to global peace and stability for the past 60 years, and welcomed the partnership with India to train third country peacekeepers at India’s training center in New Delhi. The President reaffirmed his support for a reformed UN Security Council with India as a permanent member, and both leaders committed to ensuring that the Security Council continues to play an effective role in maintaining international peace and security as envisioned in the United Nations Charter.

The President also affirmed his commitment to enhancing India’s voice and vote in international financial institutions, and ensuring that resources are made available and are used creatively through multilateral development banks for infrastructure financing.

The President thanked the Prime Minister for the gracious invitation to return to the great nation of India. In conclusion, the two leaders affirmed their long-term vision for a resilient and ambitious partnership through the first “Vision Statement for the Strategic Partnership,” which they will hold up as the guiding framework for their governments and people.

FACT SHEET

U.S.-India Energy and Climate Change Cooperation

Beginning a New Era of Cooperation

The United States and India pledged to strengthen and expand the U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE), to work together toward a successful outcome of UN climate negotiations in Paris in December 2015, and to expand bilateral cooperation on climate change.

-Ex-Im Finance MOU: The Export-Import Bank of the United States (U.S. Ex-Im Bank) and the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) have agreed to enter into an MOU which would make available up to $1 billion in U.S. Ex-Im Bank financing to support the export of Made-in-America renewable energy goods and services in connection with clean energy projects in India. The MOU supports India’s goal of transitioning to a low-carbon and climate-resilient energy economy, while creating and sustaining renewable energy industry jobs in the United States. U.S. Ex-Im Bank and IREDA intend to establish a framework for cooperation under the MOU to increase financing and mutually beneficial business opportunities in support of India’s energy initiatives, including the doubling of the upcoming phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) to 3,000 megawatts.

-Energy Smart Cities: Responding to the Government of India’s goals of bringing 24×7 power to all, accelerating the deployment of solar technology, and improving living standards, the U.S. and India plan to engage in a new partnership on energy smart cities that will showcase the policies, technologies, and business and finance models needed to turn clean energy into a commercial opportunity that will draw in private capital and allow commercial scale-up to take off.

-“Greening the Grid” – ensuring reliable delivery of clean energy through a stronger, more flexible power system: This new, multi-million dollar, multi-year effort will directly support India’s 24×7 energy access goal through a suite of activities aimed at enabling large-scale deployment of clean energy and energy efficiency. This initiative will enable India to absorb significant increases in renewable energy generation and position India as a leader in global efforts to reform power systems.

-Expanding PEACE, the U.S.-India Off-Grid Clean Energy Initiative: To further support India’s energy access goals, the United States and India agreed to expand the Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE) initiative to include a new private sector investment initiative with a goal of enabling energy access for 1,000,000 people and a new focus on mainstreaming super-efficient, high-quality, and cost-effective appliances so this energy access can support a broader range of services. These activities will significantly strengthen the business case for a scaled-up private sector response to the demand for energy in un-served areas.

-Clean Energy Finance Forum: The United States and India plan to create a bilateral Clean Energy Finance Forum through which public and private sector officials from both sides could explore specific opportunities to mobilize finance for clean energy.

-Energy Security: The United States and India will enhance cooperation and information exchange on global energy trends and mutual interests in market stability and promotion of sustainable economic growth. The U.S. government is evaluating new activities that would help India reduce imports, become more efficient, and meet new international environmental standards for fuels.

-Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): The leaders recalled previous bilateral and multilateral statements on the phase-down of HFCs. They recognized the need to use the institutions and expertise of the Montreal Protocol to reduce consumption and production of HFCs, while continuing to report and account for the quantities reduced under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. They pledged to urgently arrange a meeting of their bilateral task force on HFCs prior to the next meeting of the Montreal Protocol to discuss issues such as safety, cost and commercial access to new or alternative technologies to replace HFCs. The two sides would thereafter cooperate on next steps to tackle the challenge posed by HFCs to global warming.

-U.S.-India Partnership for Climate Resilience: The United States and India intend to identify opportunities to jointly advance capacity for strengthening climate resilience, including through development of actionable information, data and tools to help national, state, and local officials with climate adaptation planning.

-Air Quality: The United States and India announced a new program of work on air quality to expand joint efforts that deliver human health, environmental, and climate benefits. Possible focus areas include improving air quality monitoring and source identification, assessing the co-benefits of mitigation options, and aiding urban areas in responding to episodic high-level air pollution events.

-U.S.-India Climate Fellowship Program: The two governments announced their intention to create a new U.S.-India Climate Fellowship Program in order to build long-term capacity to address climate change.

-Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation: The United States and India agreed to take continued steps to advance the Green India Mission. Among these, the United States will work with India to explore the possibility of placing a Forest Fellow in the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change.

Building on a Strong Foundation

The United States and India have taken significant strides together on energy and climate, including under the U.S.-India Energy Dialogue and the U.S.-India Joint Working Group on Combating Climate Change. Since 2009, the U.S.-India Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) has mobilized nearly $2.4 billion in public and private clean energy finance to support India’s clean energy goals and $125 million for cutting-edge research on solar, biofuels, and energy efficient buildings through the U.S.-India Clean Energy Research and Development Center. This partnership includes the PACE-D Technical Assistance Program, which is accelerating deployment of clean energy technologies and policies at the national and state levels, Promoting Energy Access through Clean Energy (PEACE), which aims to harness commercial enterprise to bring clean energy access to unserved and underserved Indian villages, the U.S.-India Collaboration on Smart and Efficient Air Conditioning and Space Cooling to drive rapid uptake of high-efficiency technologies, potentially avoiding the need to build at least 75 large power plants, and the U.S.-India Energy Cooperation Program (ECP), a public-private partnership between U.S. member companies and the governments of the United States and India. The United States and India also collaborate extensively on energy technology and policy through the multilateral Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM).

The United States and India are cooperating on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) through the Partnership for Land Use Science (Forest-PLUS) Program, which is designing new tools, techniques, and methods for forest management. Through the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) program, India has improved the capacity of more than 350,000 farmers to adapt to the impacts of climate variability and change in Eastern India, and helped farmers bring more than 67,000 hectares of land under climate-resilient management practices. In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is cooperating with the India Ministry of Earth Sciences on monsoon prediction efforts that have enabled India to increase their forecast lead times by an entire day.

FACT SHEET
U.S.-India Cooperation on Promoting Women’s Empowerment

The United States and India believe that the empowerment of women and girls is essential for sustained prosperity, peace, and progress in society. The two countries partner on a range of programs and joint initiatives to strengthen women’s economic and political participation; to prevent and respond to gender-based violence; and through a new focus on adolescent girls, the two countries will work together to enable young women to lead lives as healthy and productive citizens.

Promoting Women’s Leadership in Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, and Health

-U.S.–India–Afghan Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative: Through an expanded partnership between the United States, India, and Afghanistan, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is supporting the Indian Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), the world’s largest women’s trade union to economically empower 3,000 Afghan women, strengthen local institutional capacity, and establish training centers across four Afghan provinces and Kabul.

-South Asia Women’s Economic Symposium (SAWES) Initiative: Developed under the U.S.-India Women’s Empowerment Dialogue, the SAWES initiative is advancing women’s entrepreneurship and cross-border business partnerships in India and across South Asia. Supported by the U.S. Department of State, the Asia Foundation is implementing a series of activities in collaboration with South Asian women’s business associations to increase access to finance, markets, and training opportunities for female small and medium-sized enterprise owners.

-Tupperware Brands Global Links Program: Through a public-private partnership with Tupperware Brands Corporation and Rollins College, in January 2015, the State Department will launch the Global Links Program in India to support entrepreneurship education for women. The program will support an Indian female professor of business or economics to travel to the United States to enrich her exposure to entrepreneurship education curriculum, participate in an externship at Tupperware headquarters, and support the professor’s efforts to build the capacity of future female entrepreneurs within her home university in India.

-Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership: Fourteen women business leaders from India have participated to date in a high-profile public-private partnership program between the U.S. Department of State and the Fortune Magazine Most Powerful Women Summit to develop their leadership and business skills through mentorships with senior American women executives.

-Women in Science Workshops: Identified as a priority area for engagement between the United States and India, the U.S. Department of State has partnered with the Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology, the Indo-U.S. Science and Technology (S&T) Forum, and prominent U.S. and Indian scientific organizations to advance women in science and technology. In July 2014, the United States and India organized an exchange on “Evidence-Based Techniques to Advance Gender Equality in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.” The U.S. National Science Foundation and the Indo-U.S. S&T Forum will hold a second workshop in New Delhi in November 2014 to develop bilateral partnerships that promote women in science and enhance research collaborations.

-Women in Clean Technology Initiatives: The Partnership on Women’s Entrepreneurship in Clean Energy (wPOWER) funded by the U.S. government, supports rural clean energy entrepreneurs in Maharashtra and Bihar states, in partnership with Indian NGO Swayam Shikshan Prayog. The Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group, a recipient of the U.S. Secretary of State’s Innovation Award for the Empowerment of Women and Girls, is promoting capacity building in green jobs for women in the informal sector in Delhi.

-Women’s Health Programs: USAID supports improved maternal and child healthcare through programs such as the RMNCH+A Alliance, which is being implemented by leading Indian foundations and the Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) project. The Health for Urban Poor project supported by USAID and implemented by the Population Foundation of India is increasing access to priority health services for women and children in urban slums and will be scaled up by the Government of India under the National Urban Health Mission.

Preventing and Responding to Gender-based Violence (GBV)

-Safe Cities Initiative: USAID, UN Women, and the government of Japan have partnered to implement this innovative program that employs a gender empowerment approach to urban planning and infrastructure development in New Delhi and enables girls and women to reclaim access to safe public space. Through this program, partner organizations spread information regarding GBV and NGO services, including help lines to citizens, and engage men and boys as advocates to both prevent and respond to sexual harassment or assault.

-Mobilise! Project: Supported by USAID, Dimagi, Inc. in collaboration with the St. John’s Research Institute in Bangalore is implementing a new program using mobile technology to increase the number of women screened for GBV during routine health visits, and provide counseling and referral services to survivors.

-Women in Public Service Project: With support from Embassy New Delhi, the Wilson Center and Lady Shri Ram College partnered to hold a series of roundtables in 2014 for emerging women leaders from India and the region. Participants discussed policy recommendations and drafted a Regional Platform for Action to promote women’s political participation and address GBV. Additional workshops will follow in 2015.

-Anti-Human Trafficking Initiatives: Shakti Vahini, an Indian NGO, is building the capacity of newly initiated Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), facilitating interstate police cooperation in 10 northern Indian states to combat sex and labor trafficking and forced marriages, and creating a 24/7 Response Center for search and rescue of TIP victims in partnership with AHTUs.

-Public Outreach and Awareness Programs: Through exchange and speakers programs, the U.S. Department of State regularly brings Indian leaders to the United States and American experts to India to share expertise and lessons learned on key issues facing women and girls. In 2014-2015, six different exchange tours will focus on women’s empowerment. In 2015, Embassy New Delhi plans to support communications training for organizations working to combat violence against women, including a “TechCamp” in Mumbai to implement real world technology solutions to empower civil society activists as they address GBV. Our Embassy and Consulates also plan to hold a series of film festivals throughout India focused on GBV. Global public-private partnerships with USAID, such as the Women and Girls Lead Global Project and the Girl Rising Global Partnership, will use innovative multimedia and film campaigns to promote girls’ education and engage men and boys to address root causes of GBV.

Convening Collaborative Dialogues

-The U.S.-India Women’s Empowerment Dialogue: The United States and India plan to schedule the next U.S.-India Women’s Empowerment Dialogue at a mutually convenient time. Chaired by the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues and India’s Minister for Women and Child Development, the Dialogue will advance joint programs related to key issues including women’s leadership; improving girls’ equal access to secondary education; women’s health and increasing women’s access to sanitation; strengthening the protection of women and girls; and accelerating women’s participation in the work force, including the private sector.

FACT SHEET
U.S.-India Civil Space and Technology Cooperation

U.S.-India cooperation on science, technology, and space strengthens our bilateral partnership, developing cutting edge research fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. The two countries recognize that science and technology are vital components when addressing a myriad of global challenges. We continue to expand a growing civil space partnership by broadening cooperation into new areas such as Mars exploration, while making substantial progress on joint projects and activities, including: a significant new joint Earth Science mission featuring dual frequency radar capability; continued cooperation on two operational Earth remote sensing satellite missions; and implementation of a professional engineer and scientist exchange program. Ongoing dialogue to further this productive cooperation occurs under the auspices of the U.S.-India Civil Space Joint Working Group.

-Mars Working Group: The United States and India have established a Mars Working Group to explore potential cooperation on their missions which recently arrived at Mars – ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission and NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN mission – as well as other current and future Mars missions. This augments NASA’s provision of deep space navigation and tracking support to the ISRO mission.

-NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Mission: The United States and India are moving forward in developing a joint mission to improve understanding of key impacts of climate change, advance our knowledge of natural hazards, and enable many applications for societal benefits. NASA and ISRO signed an agreement to conduct the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission for which NASA will provide an L-band SAR instrument and other hardware and ISRO will provide an S-band SAR, the spacecraft bus, and the launch vehicle. The ability of the NISAR observatory to operate simultaneously in both the L- and S-bands will be a powerful tool for discriminating differential scales in many disciplines and will provide data required to estimate the changes in the ice sheets, land vegetation, and land motion that are needed to reduce uncertainties in scientific models.

-Research Satellite Cooperation: NASA and ISRO, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a Global Precipitation Measurement Mission partner, continue productive cooperation on the ISRO-French Space Agency Megha Tropiques mission by optimizing data quality for scientific benefit. NASA, NOAA, and ISRO also continue to cooperate in the calibration, validation, and application of ocean color observation data on ISRO’s Oceansat-2 mission. NOAA looks forward to collaborating with ISRO on future follow-on ocean surface vector wind missions. The United States and India also are continuing discussions regarding the development of India’s regional navigation satellite system in a manner that is compatible and interoperable with GPS.

-Space Security Dialogue: The United States and India share a common interest in maintaining the long-term security and sustainability of the outer space environment, which is increasingly at risk from space debris and irresponsible actors. They agreed to establish a formal dialogue on space security, increasing our bilateral consultations on diplomatic initiatives such as the International Code of Conduct on Outer Space Activities, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Guidelines on Long-Term Sustainability for Space Activities, and increasing bilateral cooperation on space situational awareness and collision avoidance in outer space.

-U.S.-India S&T Joint Commission Meeting: The Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) under the U.S.-India Science and Technology Agreement will meet in New Delhi November 2014. During this meeting the United States and India will celebrate the close collaboration between scientists in both countries on issues ranging from emerging materials to atmospheric, environmental and earth sciences. The JCM will also focus on thematic questions like women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as well as regulatory systems in science and technology.

-Fundamental Science Cooperation: India has committed to participate in the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Project, an international consortium consisting of institutions from the United States, Canada, Japan, India and China. The TMT is under construction at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and when complete will be one of the largest optical-infrared telescopes in the world. India is also considering providing $210 million in 15 years in cash and kind to the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) and up to $200 million in kind over 10 years toward collaborations in accelerator R&D and associated physics research.

-India-U.S. Technology Summit: The India-U.S. Technology Summit will follow the JCM and take place in New Delhi, November 18-19, under the theme “Tackling 21st Century Challenges Together.” The Summit will include participation from several hundred companies, academic institutions, and scientists, building partnerships in joint research and development, technology commercialization, and joint business ventures designed to promote trade and investment between our two countries. The Summit will feature a trade show and exhibition to showcase the products, services, and technologies of U.S. and Indian companies and economic development organizations and will feature expert panels on the thematic sectors of manufacturing; life sciences, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare; clean and renewable energy; smart cities, natural resources and earth sciences; and IT hardware, software, embedded systems, and homeland and cyber security. (www.indoustechnologysummit.in)

-High Technology Cooperation Group: The United States and India agreed to convene the next round of the High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG). The HTCG, created in 2002 and led by the Department of Commerce, is a forum to discuss U.S.-India high-technology trade issues and also builds the confidence necessary to facilitate trade in sensitive items. The HTCG focuses on cooperative steps that the United States and India can take to create the appropriate economic, legal, and structural environments necessary for high technology commerce and trade in controlled dual-use goods and technologies.

FACT SHEET
U.S.-India Security Partnership
Defense Cooperation

Defense cooperation is one of the pillars of the U.S.-India partnership. President Obama and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the decision to renew for ten years the 2005 Framework for the U.S.-India Defense Relationship and directed their defense teams to develop plans for more ambitious programs and activities. The Leaders also pledged closer engagement between their security establishments to meet the evolving security challenges of the 21st century.

-Joint Military Training and Exercises: Joint exercises are the cornerstone of the U.S.-India defense relationship. On September 30, the countries concluded their 10th annual YUDH ABHYAS exercise, a program of U.S. Pacific Command and the Indian Army. This year’s exercise focused on peacekeeping and disaster relief. For six decades, India has been one of the top troop contributors to global peacekeeping missions, while the United States is the largest financial supporter of U.N. peacekeeping. The United States and India also agreed to upgrade their existing bilateral MALABAR naval exercise.

-Defense Trade: Since 2008, over $10 billion in defense contracts have been signed between the United States and India, and both governments are committed to reducing impediments and pursuing co-production and co-development opportunities. U.S.-sourced defense articles have greatly enhanced the capabilities of the Indian military, as demonstrated by the use of C-130J and C-17 transport aircraft to aid flood relief, support peacekeeping operations, and facilitate the evacuation of Indian citizens from Iraq.

-Defense Co-Production and Co-Development: President Obama and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing opportunities for defense co-development and co-production. Under the leadership of U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall and Indian Secretary for Defence Production G. Mohan Kumar, the United States and India have established a Task Force to decide on unique co-production and co-development projects and technologies as part of the Defense Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI). Reflecting their broader commitment to advance regional maritime security, the two sides also are assessing possible new areas of technology cooperation.

-Defense Dialogues: The United States and India plan to convene their Defense Policy Group in October 2014 in Washington, D.C., and to hold the next round of the bilateral Political-Military dialogue in early December in New Delhi. The two leaders agreed to re-invigorate the Political-Military dialogue and expand its role to serve as a wider dialogue on export licensing, defense cooperation and strategic cooperation.

-Knowledge Partnership: India is establishing the Indian National Defence University (INDU). India and the United States have agreed to build a relationship between the INDU and the U.S. National Defense University that will reflect knowledge partnership between the two universities in the field of defense studies.

Homeland Security, Counterterrorism and Nuclear Security

The United States and India continue to expand their counterterrorism and homeland security cooperation, enhancing global and bilateral security through ongoing dialogues, capacity building initiatives, and multilateral efforts including the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum. In recognition of the growing threats posed by terrorist organizations, including ISIL, the United States and India are deepening counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing, including on known and suspected terrorists and foreign fighters.

– Facilitating Legitimate Travel: India will offer visa-on-arrival to U.S. nationals in 2015. There were an estimated 1.03 million U.S. visits to India last year. India also hopes to implement procedures for Indians to benefit from the U.S. Global Entry Program during 2015. Global Entry is a trusted traveller program that enables expedited entry to frequent travellers, significantly reducing wait times.

-U.S.-India Homeland Security Cooperation: The Department of Homeland Security and Ministry of Home Affairs plan to hold the third U.S.-India Homeland Security Dialogue this year. These talks and expert exchanges will help build capacity in aviation security, cybersecurity, countering illicit finance, global supply chain security, and megacity policing. President Obama also pledged to help India counter the threat of improvised explosive devices with information and technology. The leaders also committed to pursue provision of U.S.-made mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles (MRAPs) to India.

-Law Enforcement Cooperation: Through ongoing consultations, the United States and India are strengthening Mutual Legal Assistance and improving cooperation on extradition to advance justice. This includes efforts to improve sharing of electronic evidence to combat terrorism and cybercrime. This month, the United States announced it intends to fund a new initiative to enhance bilateral Mutual Legal Assistance and extradition through a program of workshops and expert exchanges.

-Strengthening Counterterrorism Cooperation: State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Tina Kaidanow and DHS Under Secretary Francis Taylor met in July 2014 with their counterparts in the Indian government to continue the Counterterrorism Joint Working Group process. U.S. and Indian cooperative efforts include coordination in international fora, including the UN and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum. In the last year, State Department anti-terrorism programs have trained over 200 Indian security and law enforcement professional in subjects including interdicting terrorist activities and post-blast investigations.

-Urban Policing: India organized the first India-U.S. policing conference in New Delhi in December 2013. The exchange included a focus on building effective partnerships between police and diaspora communities. In July and August 2014, the International Association of Chiefs of Police hosted a study tour for 90 senior Indian police officials, exchanging information on transnational crime and emerging trends in policing. The United States also seeks to support a community policing consultation with Indian police and counterterrorism officials in Mumbai and New Delhi. The Los Angeles Police Department is to lead the early 2015 consultations, which highlight the growing cooperation between federal, state and local authorities in India and the United States.

-Cybersecurity Cooperation: Noting developing threats in cyberspace, the United States and India agreed to develop closer cybersecurity cooperation and to re-initiate the whole-of-government Cyber Consultations led by their respective National Security Councils.

-Nuclear Security Cooperation: India and the United States are working together to strengthen national and global nuclear security practices, including through India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership and in the planning for the 2016 Nuclear Security Summit in the United States.

FACT SHEET
U.S.-India Health Cooperation

Our partnership on health ranges from research and development of vaccines to implementation of disease detection centers. Both the United States and India support cutting edge research in health and our partnerships in this sector will continue to develop solutions for emerging health challenges that can transform development across the globe.

-Global Health Security Agenda: The United States and India have partnered to increase global capacity, resources and coordination necessary to tangibly reduce threats posed by infectious disease outbreaks, including Ebola. The United States will look to India’s leadership with the Agenda, and to deepen collaborations, specifically in the areas of Antimicrobial Resistance and Immunization, where India has interest and expertise.

-Ending Preventable Child and Maternal Deaths: As co-conveners of the global Call to Action, India and the United States have helped catalyze efforts around the world to save the lives of mothers and children. In support of the Call to Action and India’s role as a co-convener, the new partnership supports national-level policy development and implementation across 184 highly burdened Indian districts and strengthened service provision in up to 11 states with high rates of child and maternal deaths.

-Environmental and Occupational Health and Injury Prevention and Control: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental and Occupational Health and Injury Prevention and Control. The MOU furthers cooperation in research efforts, education and training and capacity-building activities in a number of focus areas including public health aspects of household and ambient air pollution, water quality and access, exposures to hazardous substances, strengthening of laboratory capacity, road safety and burn injuries.

-Global Disease Detection: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Government of India are collaborating to increase global security from threats of new and reemerging diseases in support of International Health Regulations. The India GDD Regional Centre was established in 2009.

-Global Transfer of Health-related Development Solutions: Recognizing India’s unique position to develop and scale solutions to difficult health problems, USAID is working with India to highlight India’s achievements as a model for improving health outcomes. Activities include learning exchanges and India providing technical assistance on HIV/AIDS prevention and control approaches to African countries.

-India Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) Program: The Indian National Centre for Disease Control and the U.S. CDC partnered to build public health leadership capacity in India and launched the India EIS program in 2012. India EIS officers have recently investigated multiple vaccine preventable illness (measles, mumps, diphtheria) outbreaks, acute encephalitis/Japanese encephalitis, food and water borne illnesses, and a recurring outbreak of an acute neurologic outbreak occurring in small children during litchi harvest season in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. Changes in clinical management of the children made based on the investigation findings reduced deaths by almost 50% in those affected compared with the previous year. India EIS officers are also being deployed for the response to the floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

-Food Safety: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Government of India regulators work together on training, sharing best practices, and conducting joint inspections to ensure good manufacturing processes and safe handling. This cooperation protects both American and Indian consumers.

-Partners in Global Polio Eradication: India has shown exceptional leadership in eliminating polio. In 2013, India celebrated three years without wild poliovirus and was declared polio-free. We hope to strengthen U.S.-India collaboration on diseases for which tools of control and prevention exist, especially polio.

-Health Research: The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have enjoyed a long history of successful research and research training collaborations on maternal and child health, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, vaccines, eye disease, neuroscience, diabetes, cancer, TB, neglected tropical diseases, behavioral and social sciences, and other infectious and non-communicable diseases that are priorities for both countries. In May 2014, the NIH and ICMR published a bilateral funding opportunity announcement to foster the formation of Indo-U.S. scientific teams conducting diabetes research of mutual interest and benefit to both countries. Awards are anticipated by September 2015.

-Rotavirus Vaccine Development: Rotavirus causes an estimated 78,000 deaths, 800,000 hospitalizations, and 3 million episodes of severe diarrhea each year in Indian children. Rotavac, a low cost rotavirus vaccine that has been recommended in India for routine immunizations, is the product of a longstanding Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action Program collaboration that includes government, private sector, and academic partners.

-Global Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs): The Global Neglected Tropical Diseases community has wanted to engage with India to learn from their abilities to monitor and manage diseases. As part of the London Declaration, Uniting to Combat NTDs, an operations research working group has engaged to identify global research priorities around combatting NTDs. USAID will facilitate participation by the premiere Indian Leishmaniasis researchers in this global research in the November 2014 Annual Tropical Medicine Meeting in New Orleans, including a two-day breakout group prior to the meeting focused specifically on Leishmaniasis. India’s contribution to the global research agenda can then be used to inform NTD strategies around the world, at the country level as well as the donor agency level.

-Cancer Research: Cancer research remains a leading priority of our broader health partnership. The U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Government of India announced a partnership to increase capacity in cancer research and patient care delivery through infrastructure development, training, and capacity building and will develop an MOU for this collaboration.

-Innovative Partnerships and Development Challenges: USAID’s Health Partnerships Action Plan will leverage multi-billion dollar national health programs of the Government of India and private sector financial resources, skills, and expertise. The plan identifies platforms for catalyzing direct private sector engagement and strengthening governmental stewardship of public-private partnerships to accelerate desired health outcomes. Through issues development challenges, USAID funds innovative ideas coming from local Indian researchers and institutions around issues such as tuberculosis medication compliance to neonatal thermoregulation.

FACT SHEET
U.S.-India Strategic Consultations

Through ongoing dialogues and multilateral initiatives, the United States and India are accelerating their engagement to meet the challenges of the 21st century. As the world’s two largest democracies, the United States and India have over 30 bilateral dialogues, including the Strategic Dialogue. The two cooperate with other partners on a wide variety of regional and global issues to share views, address challenges, and provide leadership in the world.

-U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue: In July 2014, the United States and India held the fifth round of Strategic Dialogue discussions. This annual forum, led by the Secretary of State and the Minister of External Affairs, has led to deeper cooperation on regional issues, expanded trade and investment opportunities, contributed to India’s energy security, expanded people-to-people ties, and continued joint science and health research. The Dialogue also addresses challenges like climate change and counterterrorism, building on deeper U.S.-India counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation since the 2008 Mumbai attack that claimed both Indian and U.S. victims.

-U.S.-India-Japan Trilateral Dialogue: Since inaugurating the Dialogue in December 2011, the United States, India, and Japan have held five rounds of trilateral discussions on a wide range of regional and global issues; a sixth round is planned in the near future. In addition, the three sides will explore holding a trilateral ministerial at a mutually convenient time. In July 2014, the United States, India, and Japan jointly participated in the Malabar naval exercise in the Pacific Ocean following a May 2014 trilateral disaster response and risk reduction workshop in Hawaii. All three strategic partners participated in 2013 in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief, and Military Medicine exercise hosted by Brunei.

– Indian Ocean Region Dialogue: The United States and India plan to hold regular consultations on the Indian Ocean region. These will address maritime security and environmental challenges, protection of sea lanes, disaster management preparedness, and other issues relevant to this region through which two-thirds of the world’s seaborne trade in oil, half of the world’s seaborne container traffic, and one-third of the world’s seaborne bulk cargo transits annually. The dialogue reinforces our common economic and security objectives within regional organizations like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). The United States is an observer at IORA.

-Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor (IPEC): Given India’s Act East policy and the United States’ rebalance to the Asia Pacific, the United States and India have discussed their visions of an Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor that can help bridge South and Southeast Asia – where the Indian and Pacific Oceans converge and where trade has thrived for centuries. Trade between South and Southeast Asia grew from $4 billion in 1990 to $86 billion by 2011. An increase in infrastructure investment equivalent to 1 percent of global GDP would likely translate into an additional 3.4 million jobs in India and 1.5 million in the United States. The United States acknowledges the significance of India’s $120 million investment in Burma’s Sittwe port and commits to explore similar programs leading to future development opportunities.

-UN and Multilateral Issues Dialogue: The Department of State and the Ministry of External Affairs are preparing to launch a dialogue focused on UN and multilateral issues. This new initiative will cover issues including the UN’s role in peace and security, the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda, and UN management and reform. India is the second largest contributor of peacekeepers to UN missions, with over 8,000 peacekeepers in the field, and participates with the United States in five UN peacekeeping missions.

-Cooperation in Afghanistan: The United States and India share a strategic interest in promoting peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan, and since 2012 have twice convened a trilateral dialogue with Afghanistan. India has been an important supporter of the international community’s reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, pledging $2 billion since 2001 in areas such as infrastructure projects, humanitarian assistance, women’s empowerment, education, human rights, and capacity building. India is also an important partner with Afghanistan via the Istanbul Process, a dialogue launched in November 2011 to expand practical coordination between Afghanistan and its neighbors, with the support of the United States and other international donors. The United States actively supports India’s participation in the Heart of Asia group of countries, which seeks to advance confidence building measures aimed at improving regional cooperation on Afghanistan.

-Regional Trade and Energy Coordination: The United States has also engaged India on the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural gas pipeline. The project has the potential to transform regional markets by delivering up 33 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually to help meet South Asia’s growing energy needs, and generating an estimated $500 million annually in transit revenues for Afghanistan. TAPI is an important component of the United States’ New Silk Road initiative, which seeks to strengthen Afghanistan’s regional integration by expanding trade and transit routes and opening new markets.

FACT SHEET
U.S.-India Development Cooperation

The United States-India development partnership, with its focus on harnessing science, technology, innovation, and partnership to identify, test, and scale solutions to global development challenges, is a model for the world. The partnership has seen significant progress in recent years, including concrete advances toward two ambitious global health commitments—an end to preventable child and maternal deaths and an AIDS-free generation. In agriculture, the U.S. has supported India’s leadership in bringing Indian innovations and expertise to African countries to strengthen food security. The India-U.S. Millennium Alliance innovation partnership has supported dozens of Indian innovators to develop, test, and scale their innovative products and technologies. The U.S. and Indian governments will continue to join efforts to address the world’s most intractable development challenges and emerging priorities.

-Water and Sanitation: Within India’s seven mega-million cities alone, 23 million people live in informal or slum settlements with inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services. As a result, water-borne disease is a constant concern and a leading cause of sickness and mortality, particularly among children under five. The scale of this challenge requires innovative approaches to urban development which draw upon the best Indian and U.S. expertise. USAID announced a knowledge partnership with the Indian government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support the new 500 Cities National Urban Development Mission and Clean India Campaign. State-of-the-art research, targeted technical assistance, innovation, knowledge-sharing, and public-private partnerships to facilitate scale are central to this partnership, which includes a new $6 million Urban Water-Sanitation-Hygiene (WASH) Alliance to support public-private partnership models in urban areas.

-Triangular Partnership: Triangular partnership has showcased Indian leadership and know-how, benefitting developing countries in areas such as health, food security and women’s empowerment. The shared goals of the U.S. and India for future triangular development cooperation as elaborated in the joint Statement of Guiding Principles include: (1) $1.5 million to extend small mechanization and capacity-building efforts to Indian and Nepali institutions, businesses, and universities; (2) an expanded $1.5 million project with the Self Employed Women’s Association to mobilize Indian expertise to empower and improve the livelihoods of 3,000 Afghan women across four Afghan provinces and Kabul; and, (3) concerted efforts to strengthen disaster management in South Asia, including through an upcoming study tour conducted by the ASEAN Coordinating Center on Humanitarian Assistance for Disaster Management.

-U.S.-India Millennium Alliance: The USAID-supported Millennium Alliance is an innovation partnership that brings together public and private partners to leverage Indian creativity, expertise, and resources to source and scale innovative solutions to development challenges that affect the base of the pyramid populations across India and the world. USAID also supports several other innovation platforms such as the READ Alliance, India-Africa Agriculture Bridge, CLEAN Off-Grid Alliance, Tuberculosis Alliance, and Reproductive Maternal/Newborn/Child Health (RMNCH) Alliance. Innovation, science, and technology are central to other joint development cooperation efforts, including a new $6 million partnership to research climate resilient crops.

-Financing Social Development: Through a proposed U.S.-India Diaspora Investment Facility, we could provide financing for significant social impact investments in India by offering new ways for the Indian diaspora community in the U.S. to invest and channel their funds to small and-medium-sized enterprises generating social impact in India.

-Wildlife: Biodiversity is the fabric of our lives and planet. Promoting stewardship of nature is a critical and effective strategy for fighting extreme poverty and fostering resilient societies. With partners ranging from non-governmental organizations to the private sector the United States is conserving biodiversity and combatting wildlife trafficking along an entire spectrum of efforts. Whether it’s conserving wild lands, decreasing demand for wildlife products on the ground, or supporting research, the United States enables a holistic response to this complicated challenge at various levels.

FACT SHEET
U.S.-India Higher Education and Skills Development Cooperation
Higher Education

Indian students account for the second-largest group of foreign students in the United States, with approximately 100,000 students studying in the United States in 2012-13. At the same time, a growing number of Americans are choosing to study abroad in India. These students advance innovation and research in our universities and in their communities when they return home. Partnerships and joint projects between Indian and U.S. higher education institutions produce advances in science, business, health, agriculture, and other sectors while strengthening civil society in both countries. The U.S. government, through EducationUSA advising, provides accurate, comprehensive information to Indian students about studying in the United States, and assists U.S. institutions with understanding the Indian higher education system.

-Building on our long-standing partnership and support for Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), the United States will support the establishment of a new IIT. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide a range of high-level analytic, diagnostic, and organizational development services to support the Government of India’s efforts to stand up a new IIT. Based on the outcomes of these services, USAID and the U.S. Department of State will explore potential areas for future collaboration, which may include planning, faculty development, and exchange programs, as well as potential partnerships with leading U.S. higher education institutions and private sector entities.

-USAID’s support of the India-Support for Teacher Education Project provides a three-month, customized training for 110 Indian teacher educators at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, enabling the teacher educators to offer high quality training to Indian teachers upon their return, ultimately benefiting thousands of students.

-The United States and India have each pledged $5 million to the 21st Century Knowledge Initiative to support partnerships between higher education institutions in both countries to strengthen teaching and research in priority fields such as energy, climate change, and public health. Since the program’s launch in 2012 we have funded 24 different projects, ranging from support for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to exploration of the impacts of climate change on indigenous communities.

– The Fulbright-Nehru program has nearly tripled in size since 2009, with approximately 300 Indian and U.S. students and scholars participating annually. Since 1950, the United States-India Education Foundation (USIEF) with support from both governments has awarded approximately 9,600 Fulbright grants in a full range of academic disciplines. USIEF has also administered 8,600 other awards, including the U.S. Department of Education’s Fulbright-Hays and the East-West Center grants, for a total of over 18,000 awards in the last 64 years.

-The U.S. government re-launched the Passport to India initiative this year to develop the next generation of business, science, and political leaders of U.S.-India relations. Administered in partnership with the Ohio State University, Passport to India works with the private sector to increase the number of available internships, service learning, and study abroad opportunities in India. In October, Passport to India will launch a new website – www.PassportToIndia.com – that will serve as a portal for all student opportunities in India. In spring 2015, Passport to India will launch a massive open online course (MOOC) for American students interested in learning about India.

-The U.S.-India Higher Education Dialogue promotes enhanced opportunities for student and scholar mobility and faculty collaboration between the United States and India, as well as exchanges on technology-enabled learning. In addition to our ongoing collaboration on community colleges, improving workforce training, expansion of research and teaching exchanges, and public-private partnerships in higher education, we agreed that the next dialogue will focus on India’s new platform for online courses and new collaboration opportunities around science, technology, and innovation fields.

-The Government of India proposed several new initiatives to promote faculty exchange and knowledge sharing. Through its Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN) program, India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development and Department of Science and Technology will create a channel for U.S. professors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to teach in Indian academic and research institutions on short-term exchanges. In addition, India’s SWAYAM platform for massive open online courses will link all of India’s public higher education institutions. Through the Higher Education Dialogue, we will identify opportunities for U.S. universities to participate in this platform.

Skills Development

India is home to the world’s largest youth population, with more than 50 percent of India’s population under 25 years of age, and over two-thirds under age 35. This demographic dividend presents a tremendous opportunity for India to become a global economic leader, and create new and diverse investment opportunities for the world. Investing in India’s youth will enable India to realize its full potential and further strengthen India’s leadership in promoting global economic prosperity and democratic stability. This landscape presents promising opportunities for knowledge sharing and public-private partnership.

-USAID is partnering with the McKinsey Social Initiative on a new global public-private partnership initiative, “Generation,” in India, the United States, Spain, Mexico, and Kenya to design and deliver pioneering solutions to train and employ millions of youth. The U.S. and Indian governments are also exploring other avenues of collaboration in skills development, in areas such as standards, qualification frameworks, and certification, as well as knowledge exchanges.

– India and the United States intend to establish a knowledge partnership to exchange expertise and best practices in support of the Department of Skills Development’s efforts to develop nationwide skills standards and institutional structures to support skills development. In addition, the Government of India will explore public-private partnerships with U.S. businesses to set up skills development units in industrial hubs, with the aim to train up to 80,000 workers per year.

-Through the Higher Education Dialogue and our community college collaboration, U.S. community colleges partner with Indian institutions to enhance economic opportunity in India through adoption of aspects of the community college education model and best practices in skills development. As part of an agreement between the American Association of Community Colleges and the All-India Council for Technical Education, we share best practices in how to link industry needs to curriculum development and ensure a trained workforce for the future. We also support exchanges of administrators and education officials responsible for community colleges and career, technical, and vocational education, including through the Fulbright-Nehru International Education Administers Program this fall.

Private Sector Exchanges in Education and Skills Development

-Through the privately-funded Exchange Visitor Program (EVP), close to 300 Indian university students and recent graduates come to the United States each year to work as interns in prestigious U.S. companies, institutions, and organizations. Additionally, approximately 600 Indian professionals come to the United States annually through EVP’s trainee category to further their professional growth and knowledge of U.S. business practices.

FACT SHEET
U.S.-India Trade and Economic Cooperation

The growing economic relationship between the United States and India has been a foundational element of the U.S.-India relationship and strategic partnership. Our bilateral trade expanded fivefold from $19 billion in 2000 to $97 billion in 2013. The United States and India have committed to working together to facilitate greater investment in both directions, to open new Indian sectors to private investment, and to address impediments to growth that will enable trade between our countries to grow another fivefold.

-Smart Cities: The United States welcomes India’s offer for U.S. industry to be lead partner in developing smart cities in Ajmer (Rajasthan), Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh). Building on the positive momentum of the September 29-30 Global Cities Challenge workshop held at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Commerce plans to conduct a series roundtable discussions with other U.S. Government agencies and U.S. industry groups with their Indian counterparts to identify actionable solutions and plans to design and implement novel infrastructure platforms for new Indian smart cities.

-Digital India Initiative: Under the Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in the Field of Information Communications Technology and Electronics, the United States and India agreed to partner on the Digital India initiative, with the goal of enhancing digital infrastructure, deploying e-governance and e-services, and digitally empowering India’s citizens. The two sides tasked the U.S.-India Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Working Group to finalize details of cooperation by the upcoming India-U.S. Technology Summit in November in New Delhi.

-Infrastructure Collaboration Platform: The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Indian Ministry of Finance agreed to establish an Infrastructure Collaboration Platform that will include mechanisms to identify and clarify critical infrastructure needs of India; provide a single Government of India point of contact for coordinating across ministries; and work with U.S. and Indian industry to facilitate a substantial increase in U.S. industry participation in the execution of Indian infrastructure projects in such sectors such as power, water, sanitation, transportation, safety and smart cities. Senior Commerce Department officials will lead a pair of trade missions to India in 2015 focused on infrastructure opportunities in India.

-Bilateral Shared Forum on Manufacturing: Through a Bilateral Shared Forum on Manufacturing, the U.S. Department of Commerce looks forward to hosting delegations from the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry on a visit to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2015 to learn how NIST supports U.S. manufacturers to innovate and grow through its Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program. The delegations may also visit one or more MEP centers in U.S. states.

-Cross-Border Trade and Investment: In order to facilitate greater confidence in cross-border trade and investment, the United States and India are working to resolve outstanding tax disputes. In support of the SelectUSA and the Export-Import Bank of India partnership, cemented on July 30th, both organizations will work together to assist Indian companies and entrepreneurs as they seek to invest and create jobs in the United States.

-Private Sector Investment: The Overseas Private Investment Corporation has a robust portfolio in India with over twenty investments totaling $681 million. Clean energy investment in India has been a particularly strong focus area. To date, OPIC has committed over $500 million and mobilized more than $450 million in additional private capital in India’s clean energy sector.

-Intra-regional Infrastructure Development: To support mutual interests to expand an Indo-Pacific Economic Corridor reaching to Burma and Southeast Asia, the Department of State and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency are collaborating with the Government of India to identify and advance critical ports, rail, aviation and intermodal infrastructure projects that accelerate linkages that will foster connectivity, increased trade and greater economic growth opportunities in this vital region. Emphasis will be placed on projects that open opportunities for U.S. business collaboration in partnership with Indian public and private sector interests.

-Financing Infrastructure Development: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) plans to invest over $15 million in infrastructure planning activities in India over the next five years. USTDA will continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, through the Airports Authority of India, on aviation plans to expand its GAGAN satellite navigation system, which has benefits that extend beyond aviation to all modes of transportation. USTDA is working with Indian Railways to help identify methods to attract financing, including through public-private Rail Infrastructure Partnerships.

– Aviation and Energy Cooperation: Recognizing the importance of growing U.S. – India cooperation in the critical aviation and energy sectors, the U.S. – India Aviation Cooperation Program and the U.S. – India Energy Cooperation Program have provided platforms for the public and private sectors of both countries to identify cooperation opportunities and establish commercial ties that are mutually beneficial. Supported by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and with cooperation from India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, as well as various energy ministries and state-level energy departments among others, industry and government partners expect to carry out new programs in 2015 in aviation security and safety, energy storage and refinery modernizations, and other business collaboration areas.

-Indo-U.S. Investment Initiative: The Ministry of Finance and the U.S. Department of the Treasury agreed to establish an Indo-U.S. Investment Initiative to facilitate investment in India by institutional investors and corporate entities. As part of the U.S. India Economic and Financial Partnership, the investment initiative will focus on deepening capital markets, especially debt markets, to support the long-term financing of infrastructure in India.

Collaborative Dialogues

-U.S.-India Commercial Dialogue: The U.S. Department of Commerce and the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry agreed to inaugurate the 2014-2016 term of the Commercial Dialogue with a pair of public-private roundtables on new areas of discussion that address key U.S. and Indian concerns with regard to manufacturing and infrastructure. One roundtable will be on market friendly approaches to innovation in advanced manufacturing. The other will be on corrosion prevention technologies and standards.

-U.S.-India CEO Forum: The U.S.-India CEO Forum was designed to enable a forthright conversation both about immediate policy issues to encourage greater trade and investment as well as the longer term path for economic and business ties between our two countries. A reinvigorated Forum will serve as a platform for business leaders to highlight their needs, interests, and desired policy reforms for government consideration and action.

– Trade Policy Forum: Recognizing the tremendous potential in our bilateral trade relationship, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry look forward to convening a Trade Policy Forum (TPF) to renew bilateral discussions on trade and investment policy issues of interest to the two countries such as intellectual property, investing in manufacturing, services and agriculture. Work under the TPF will encourage trade-related policies that promote investment and manufacturing in both countries through a regularized dialogue. As part of an ongoing commitment to strengthen engagement, both governments also agreed to establish a high-level working group on intellectual property under the TPF that will meet at the senior official and expert level to discuss the range of intellectual property issues of concern and interest to both sides.

-U.S.-India Agriculture Dialogue: With participants from the public and private sectors, the U.S.-India Agriculture Dialogue promotes bilateral cooperation through a comprehensive approach to agricultural capacity building that is of practical and immediate benefit to the Indian farm sector. USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service has been working with India’s National Institute of Plant Heath Management to monitor and control pests and strengthen quarantine facilities.