Obama visit to bring vigor in Indo-US relations

Even as President Barack Obama's itinerary for his three-day visit to India was announced on Thursday, in the last minute rush various departments were busy in preparing their wish list to be discussed at the bilateral talks, he will hold with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House on Sunday.

Officials agree that Modi’s September visit to Washington has provided vitality between the relations, which had almost turned frosty during the second term of UPA regime led by Dr. Manmohan Singh. Such is the turn around that since September there have been 9 official level meetings between the two sides in addition to 8 other meetings on defence and security cooperation. On promotion of economic and commercial ties, both sides have held three meetings, since Modi and Obama put the relations back on rails.

Over past four months, the contact group to sort out issues related to nuclear liability law that has jammed the Indo-US nuclear agreement over past 8 years has also met thrice over past 45 days.

India’s wish list so far includes to seek US backing for the membership in the world energy bodies like the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Australia Club and the Wassenaar Agreement group and technology transfer for defence and science. It is understood that the US has promised to support India’s case “in a phased manner”, keeping in view the Chinese may spoil the party at the NSG and MTCR.

Sources here say, Washington has offered its backing for India’s membership to less controversial groups like  the 41-member Wassenaar Arrangement group controlling exports for conventional arms and dual use goods  and the 42-member informal  Australia Group that control export of chemical compounds. China and Israel are not members of these two groupings, Though, Washington believes, there will be less opposition to India’s entry into these two groups, Prime Minister Modi sill seem President Obama’s help to prevail upon member countries to make inroads into the elite NSG and MTCR club.

Meanwhile, experts have asked government to explore a pragmatic and balanced implementation of civil nuclear liability Prominent experts from the government, industry and civil society, who met here at the premier think-tank Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), ahead of Obama’s visit,  insisted that the objective of The Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010, should be that that the victim in case of a nuclear incident should be able to get prompt and adequate compensation rather blocking the operationalization of nuclear energy  goals.  

The experts from the industry argued that they have been participating in India Nuclear programme since 1967 and have supported the DAE in times of tougher international sanctions. Indian industry capabilities are today recognized by foreign technology providers in terms of engineering, manufacturing prowess, quality control etc. They also called for rigorous implementation of nuclear program through creation of mechanisms for technology absorption as well as to achieve greater degree of indigenization in nuclear reactor and component manufacturing. 

Another major wish list is to seek transfer of technologies both in scientific research and defence, which, despite commitments has remained a pipe dream. The Defence Ministry is understood to have rushed for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval a new list of the military technologies that the Indian defence forces requires to match Chinese capabilities in the region. Since 2005, India has purchased eight high-ticket defence equipment worth  $ 8.99 billion dollars from the US, but none of them came with transfer of technology. They got stuck under American conditions to sign "foundational agreements", such as a logistics support pact and the CISMOA (Communications Interoperability and Secrecy Memorandum of Agreement).

Currently, both sides are negotiating to strike a deal on 7 other defence equipment worth $8.35 billion that include Apaoche attack helicopters, General Electric Engine for Tejas, Chinook heavy lift helicopters, more C-17 III aircraft etc.  Officials said efforts will be made to let the new list that incorporates "Make in India" concept be incorporated while renewing a 10-year defence framework agreement as agreed upon between the two countries in August last year. So far the United States has not licensed production of any piece of military equipment in India as India has been so far buying the hardware off the shelf, but Obama has now offered to provide "transformative defence technologies" for co-development and co-production.(ends)

Programme

President Obama will arrive  at 10 AM on the 25th January. 

·  As is usual for such visits, following his arrival, he will be received ceremonially at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan and he will pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the Rajghat, followed by bilateral discussions between Prime Minister and President Obama at the Hyderabad House, In the evening, the President Pranab Mukherjee will host a Banquet for the visiting dignitary.

·  On the 26th January, President Obama will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day function.  He will also attend the “At Home” Receiption of the President and will address business events along with the Prime Minister. 

·  On 27th January, President Obama is expected to address a select gathering in the morning and the President and the First Lady are expected to visit Agra before their departure from New Delhi.  President Obama is the first US President to visit India twice and the first US President to be the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations.  

·  The big coup for the government is  Obama's appearance on the  PM's radio show which will record and broadcast on the 27th before the Obamas head to Agra .

Piyush Goyal, Minister of State with Independent Charge for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy is the minister of waiting for the Obama.