Locke to lead a high-tech trade mission to India

Delivering remarks at the US-India Business and Entrepreneurship Summit in Mumbai on Saturday, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced he will lead a high-tech trade mission to India.

The February 6-11, 2011 business development mission will promote the export of high-technology products from leading US firms and make stops in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.

"Exports are leading the US economic recovery, spurring future economic growth and creating jobs in America," Locke said.

"Increasing trade between the US and India will help drive innovation and create jobs in both countries. As trading partners, US companies can help India meet the ambitious economic and social goals laid out by its government, while the Indian market holds enormous potential for US exporters."

The trade mission will highlight export opportunities for US businesses in a broad range of advanced industrial sectors, including civil-nuclear trade, defense and security, civil aviation, and information and communication.

The India business development mission will help build on the exporting success US companies have had in 2010 - up nearly 18 per cent compared to the same period last year. It will be Locke's second trade mission as Commerce secretary. In May, he led a clean energy business development mission to China and Indonesia.

Exports represent a critical part of the economy and are a key component of the Obama administration's efforts to spur new job creation.

Earlier this year, President Obama outlined his National Export Initiative (NEI), which seeks to double exports by 2015, in support of several million new US jobs.

The NEI enhances the U.S. government's trade promotion efforts, increases credit to businesses - especially small and medium-sized businesses - looking to export and continues to improve efforts to remove trade barriers for US companies in foreign markets.

The Department of Commerce, through the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), leads the administration's trade promotion efforts. The TPCC provides a platform for the Secretary of Commerce to advance a government-wide agenda on trade promotion and to directly engage the heads of the other TPCC agencies.

Commerce's International Trade Administration helps American companies export their products and services around the world, utilizing some 1,500 U.S. Commercial Service staff stationed in 77 countries across the globe.

Last year, the US Commercial Service helped facilitate billions of dollars in US export sales, supporting jobs across the country.