India - Partner In Growth
Greetings from the Embassy of India in Washington D.C.!
Welcome to the  August 2, 2018, edition of our weekly newsletter, bringing you important policy and high-impact news about India.
I hope you find it useful.
-- Shambhu Hakki, First Secretary, Press, Information and Culture

YouTube
Facebook Twitter
KEY POLICY DECISIONS
PM Modi Lauds 2 Indian Tech Innovators in U.S. for Rural Development App

In his Mann Ki Baat radio address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi singled out two Indian engineers living in California that have created an app for rural development to connect small villages to global markets.



Secy. of State Pompeo Announces Digital, Energy Infra Projects to Benefit India

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced several new investment initiatives in the digital economy, energy and infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region that will benefit India, underlining the importance of the Indo-U.S. alliance.



 
U.S. Congress Paves Way for Sanctions Waiver for India

The Senate and House Armed Services Committees in a joint conference report provided a modified waiver to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that will spare India from sanctions.



 
Govt. OKs Implementation of 'Make in India' Defense Policy

The Government approved the implementation of guidelines for the defense strategic partnership model that encourages domestic and foreign firms to manufacture in India. The first project will be twin-engine helicopters for the Indian Navy.



 

Commerce Minister: India Will be $10 Trillion Economy by 2035

India will be a $5 trillion economy within seven to eight years and a $10 trillion economy by 2035, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu said, adding that India's exports in the most recent fiscal year were the highest in six years.



 
HIGH-IMPACT NEWS
U.S. Eases Export Control for High-Tech Product Sales to India

The U.S. eased export controls for high-technology product sales to India by designating it as a Strategic Trade Authorization-1 country, the only South Asia nation to make the list. This follows U.S. recognition of India as a "major defense partner" in 2016.



 
Boeing's Apache, Chinook Choppers for India Make 1st Flights

Boeing has carried out the first flights of the Apache and Chinook military helicopters and delivery to the Indian Air Force will commence next year, officials said. India is procuring 22 AH-64E Apache attack choppers and 15 CH-47F(I) Chinook heavy-lift helicopters from Boeing. 



Zuckerberg has Big Plans for Facebook, WhatsApp in India

WhatsApp's payments test run in India has gone so well that Facebook can't wait to launch the service nationwide. "Of the people who have tested this, feedback and usage have been very strong," Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said.




FDI in Food-Processing Sector Up 24% in FY18

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India's food procession sector rose 24 percent in 2017-18 to $905 million, officials said. In July, the Government approved Amazon's $500 million investment in retailing of food products in India.




USAID, AMCHAM Join Hands to Address India's Development Needs

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM) said they have inked an agreement to address India's development needs. The two parties said they will collaborate to combine U.S. government and private sector resources.




TRANSFORMING INDIA
All-Women Crew Pilots Train, Makes History

For the first time in the history of India's East Central Railway, which operates in the northeast of the country, three women -- two locomotive pilots and a guard -- took independent control of a goods train and piloted it from Danapur to Fatuha. 

 
 

Have a business problem with India you need fixed?
Email us at: [email protected] or  [email protected]