Private Sector Advisory Group delegation meets Indian envoy

WASHINGTON: A US delegation of the Private Sector Advisory Group ( PSAG) of the Trade Policy Forum ( TPF) met Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao here and discussed ways to advance bilateral trade and economic engagement to the next level.

The delegation led by Fred Bergsten, Co-Chair of PSAG, met Rao on Thursday. Others members of the delegation were Robert Vastine, president of the Coalition of Service Industries, Ron Somers, president of the US India Business Council, Charlene Barshefsky, former Deputy US Trade Representatives, Arvind Subramanian from Peterson Institute of International Economics and Anku Nath from USIBC.

"The delegation briefed the Ambassador on PSAG's activities; on the follow up implementation of its last report submitted to the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) leadership in January, 2011; and shared its thoughts on advancing bilateral trade and economic engagement to the next level," Indian Embassy spokesman Virander Paul said in a statement.

During the meeting, Rao appreciated the very constructive role that the PSAG has been playing in strengthening the TPF process through its detailed and progressive recommendations.

Rao emphasized that there was a continued need to focus on the big picture of the relationship.

The Ministerial Trade Policy Forum is an important platform to consider PSAG's recommendations on strengthening overall bilateral trade and commercial cooperation, Rao said and expressed the hope that the TPF would hold it's next meeting soon.