End user monitoring heralds closer Indo-US defence ties: USIBC

The US India Business Council, an influential advocacy group representing American companies doing business in India, has hailed the agreement reached between India and the US on end user monitoring (EUM), saying it will immediately boost defence ties between the two countries.

The agreement was reached during US secretary of state Hillary Clinton's visit to India. Calling it a breakthrough, USIBC said in a statement, "Such an agreement will enable defence and security trade between the US and India as never before, and will facilitate the participation of US companies in supporting India in transforming its military and homeland security apparatus."

Ron Somers, the USIBC president, added, "Agreement on EUM, besides opening the door to increased defence trade and security cooperation, indicates a high level of trust and cooperation between the US and India."

The USIBC also asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to increase the cap on foreign direct investment in the defence sector to 49 per cent.

"While successful completion of EUM negotiations is a positive step in the right direction, USIBC is aware that more still needs to be done in this important sector," its statement said.

The USIBC played an important role in lobbying for the Indo-US nuclear deal in Congress, as well as in pushing for the EUM agreement.
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