NEW DELHI: With a series of deals and mega announcements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic visit to the US has yielded fruitful results for both countries looking to take their relationship to the next level.
In addition to captivating millions at home and in the United States with his speeches in the US Congress and outside the White House, Prime Minister Modi held several high-profile meetings that concluded with both parties making mega announcements in the areas of defense, trade, space, solar energy and visas.
These are the 10 key announcements that emerged from India-US talks during Prime Minister Modi’s visit…
visas
The Biden administration said it will make it easier for Indians to live and work in the United States.
The State Department could announce as early as Thursday that a small number of Indian and other foreign workers on H-1B visas will be able to renew those visas in the US without having to travel abroad, a source said, as part of a pilot program that could be expanded in the coming years.
new consulates
The two sides will also open new consulates in both countries on a reciprocal basis to enhance people-to-people and travel ties.
The United States intends to open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. India will open a new consulate in Seattle this year and will soon announce two more consulates in the US.
GE–HAL Agreement
General Electric’s aerospace unit on Thursday announced that it had signed an agreement with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics to jointly manufacture engines in India to power fighter jets, specifically Tejas, for the Indian Air Force.
The agreement, called “historic” and “pioneering” by officials, is considered the most significant of the number of agreements signed between the two countries.
GE-HAL’s deal to co-produce F414 engines in India requires US government and legislative approvals.
It is not yet known how much of the technology behind the F414 GE will share with HAL, and whether that includes sensitive technology that deals with handling very high engine temperatures.
The first F414 engines are expected to be delivered from the US over the next three years, while HAL establishes a production facility in India.
drones
The Defense Ministry has approved the acquisition of MQ-9B SeaGuardian armed drones, sources told Reuters earlier this month. India will buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth just over $3 billion.
The MQ-9Bs will be assembled in India, according to a joint statement, and US manufacturer General Atomics will also set up a new facility in India.
The proposed acquisition of the high-altitude, long-endurance drones (15 SeaGuardians for the Navy and eight SkyGuardians each for the Army and IAF) under the US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program will eventually it will have to be approved by the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) before the final contract is signed.
Micron’s huge investment in Gujarat
US memory chip firm Micron Technology said on Thursday that would invest up to $825 million at a new chip testing and assembly plant in Gujarat, its first factory in India.
Micron said that with the support of the central government and the state of Gujarat, the total investment in the plant will be $2.75 billion. Of that, 50% will come from the Center and 20% from the state of Gujarat.
US semiconductor tool maker Applied Materials will invest $400 million over four years in a new engineering center in India, the company said Thursday.
Trade
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the two nations have agreed to end six pending disputes at the World Trade Organization.
India also agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs, which it had imposed in response to US Section 232 national security measures on steel and aluminum, on US products including chickpeas and apples.
critical minerals
India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), a US-led partnership to create supply chains for critical energy minerals. India will join 12 other partner countries, in addition to the European Union.
India’s Epsilon Carbon Limited will invest $650 million in a greenfield electric vehicle battery components factory, hiring more than 500 employees over the course of five years.
investment in solar energy
A start-up backed by Indian solar panel maker Vikram Solar Ltd (VIKO.NS) said on Thursday it will invest up to $1.5 billion in the US solar power supply chain, starting with a factory in Colorado on next year.
The newly formed company, VSK Energy LLC, will help the US drive to build a clean energy manufacturing sector to compete with China.
Space
The two countries also announced a framework for human spaceflight this year and a mission to the International Space Station in 2024, following India’s decision to join the US-led Artemis Accord.
advanced computing
India and the US established a joint US-Indian quantum coordination mechanism to facilitate joint research between the public and private sectors of both countries.
They have also signed a new implementation agreement on advanced wireless and quantum artificial intelligence technologies.
(With contributions from Reuters)
In addition to captivating millions at home and in the United States with his speeches in the US Congress and outside the White House, Prime Minister Modi held several high-profile meetings that concluded with both parties making mega announcements in the areas of defense, trade, space, solar energy and visas.
These are the 10 key announcements that emerged from India-US talks during Prime Minister Modi’s visit…
visas
The Biden administration said it will make it easier for Indians to live and work in the United States.
The State Department could announce as early as Thursday that a small number of Indian and other foreign workers on H-1B visas will be able to renew those visas in the US without having to travel abroad, a source said, as part of a pilot program that could be expanded in the coming years.
new consulates
The two sides will also open new consulates in both countries on a reciprocal basis to enhance people-to-people and travel ties.
The United States intends to open two new consulates in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad. India will open a new consulate in Seattle this year and will soon announce two more consulates in the US.
GE–HAL Agreement
General Electric’s aerospace unit on Thursday announced that it had signed an agreement with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics to jointly manufacture engines in India to power fighter jets, specifically Tejas, for the Indian Air Force.
The agreement, called “historic” and “pioneering” by officials, is considered the most significant of the number of agreements signed between the two countries.
GE-HAL’s deal to co-produce F414 engines in India requires US government and legislative approvals.
It is not yet known how much of the technology behind the F414 GE will share with HAL, and whether that includes sensitive technology that deals with handling very high engine temperatures.
The first F414 engines are expected to be delivered from the US over the next three years, while HAL establishes a production facility in India.
drones
The Defense Ministry has approved the acquisition of MQ-9B SeaGuardian armed drones, sources told Reuters earlier this month. India will buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth just over $3 billion.
The MQ-9Bs will be assembled in India, according to a joint statement, and US manufacturer General Atomics will also set up a new facility in India.
The proposed acquisition of the high-altitude, long-endurance drones (15 SeaGuardians for the Navy and eight SkyGuardians each for the Army and IAF) under the US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program will eventually it will have to be approved by the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) before the final contract is signed.
Micron’s huge investment in Gujarat
US memory chip firm Micron Technology said on Thursday that would invest up to $825 million at a new chip testing and assembly plant in Gujarat, its first factory in India.
Micron said that with the support of the central government and the state of Gujarat, the total investment in the plant will be $2.75 billion. Of that, 50% will come from the Center and 20% from the state of Gujarat.
US semiconductor tool maker Applied Materials will invest $400 million over four years in a new engineering center in India, the company said Thursday.
Trade
US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the two nations have agreed to end six pending disputes at the World Trade Organization.
India also agreed to remove retaliatory tariffs, which it had imposed in response to US Section 232 national security measures on steel and aluminum, on US products including chickpeas and apples.
critical minerals
India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), a US-led partnership to create supply chains for critical energy minerals. India will join 12 other partner countries, in addition to the European Union.
India’s Epsilon Carbon Limited will invest $650 million in a greenfield electric vehicle battery components factory, hiring more than 500 employees over the course of five years.
investment in solar energy
A start-up backed by Indian solar panel maker Vikram Solar Ltd (VIKO.NS) said on Thursday it will invest up to $1.5 billion in the US solar power supply chain, starting with a factory in Colorado on next year.
The newly formed company, VSK Energy LLC, will help the US drive to build a clean energy manufacturing sector to compete with China.
Space
The two countries also announced a framework for human spaceflight this year and a mission to the International Space Station in 2024, following India’s decision to join the US-led Artemis Accord.
advanced computing
India and the US established a joint US-Indian quantum coordination mechanism to facilitate joint research between the public and private sectors of both countries.
They have also signed a new implementation agreement on advanced wireless and quantum artificial intelligence technologies.
(With contributions from Reuters)
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