Deputy National Security Adviser Michael Froman and Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India Montek Singh Ahluwalia, along with CEO co-chairs Ratan Tata and David Cote, led a meeting of the U.S.-India CEO Forum at the Department of State. In addition to the U.S. and Indian CEOs, many senior Indian and U.S. officials participated, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Under Secretary Robert Hormats, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council Larry Summers, and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the group, highlighting the important role the CEO Forum plays in the U.S. - India partnership.
Prior to the U.S.-India CEO Forum luncheon, Secretary Clinton held a bilateral meeting with Indian Finance Minister Mukherjee and members of his delegation.
The CEO Forum was created in July 2005, and reconstituted in November 2009. The Forum is a true public-private endeavor to enhance bilateral trade and investment. The Forum gives U.S. and Indian CEOs the opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest and to develop recommendations to both governments for actions to enhance the trade, investment and people-to-people ties that are driving our bilateral relationship. The Forum last met on the margins of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s official state visit in November 2009.
The U.S. CEO Forum Members are:
For the White House 23 November 2009 press release, please visit:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/statement-press-secretary-us-india-ceo-forum
