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India - Partner In Growth
Greetings from the Embassy of India in Washington D.C.!
Welcome to the  August 9, 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

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KEY POLICY DECISIONS
India Welcomes Elevated Trade Partner Status from U.S.
 
India has welcomed the decision of the U.S. to grant it the status of a trading partner equivalent to its closest allies in the NATO. This decision is likely to boost India's defense trade with the U.S. The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said it proved India's responsible record as a defense player.




India Hails U.S. for Naming Three to Global Terror List

India welcomed the U.S. decision to name as Specially Designated Global Terrorists three Pakistan-based members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group, considered one of the largest and most active in South Asia.



 
India's Fast-Growing Economy Gets Another Interest-Rate Hike

The Reserve Bank of India has raised the rate at which it lends to banks from 6.25 percent to 6.5 percent after hiking it for the first time in four years in June. India is growing faster than any other major economy.



 
Govt. OKs E-Commerce Shipment via Foreign Post Offices
 
The Customs Department plans to permit e-commerce shipment via foreign post offices, in order to speed and improve consumer service.



 
IT Minister: India Heading for a Digital Boom

Minister for Electronics and IT Shankar Prasad predicted a digital boom in India and said the country is becoming a hub of electronics manufacturing in the world, while inaugurating the state-of-the-art Electronics and IT Enclave of Software Technology Parks of India.



 
HIGH-IMPACT NEWS
U.S. Defense Spending Bill Strengthens Partnership with India

India was among key beneficiaries of the new U.S. defense spending bill recently passed in Washington, which seeks to strengthen and enhance America's defense partnership with India.



 
Amazon's Future in India Involves Buses and Daily Commuters

Amazon's Alexa Fund, the firm's $100 million venture capital arm that invests in voice-technology companies, led an $11 million round of financing for Indian mobility startup Shuttl, an app that allows commuters to book seats in shuttle buses.



Harley-Davidson to Make Affordable Motorcycles in India

Harley-Davidson is scouting for a partner with a manufacturing and distribution footprint to make lightweight motorcycles for use in India and other Asian markets, a top company executive said. The company said it would launch a 250cc to 500cc motorcycle in India to boost sales in the world's largest two-wheeler market.



Indian-American Seema Nanda Named CEO of Democratic National Committee

Seema Nanda has become the first Indian-American woman appointed as the CEO of the Democratic National Committee in recent history. "This position is the opportunity of a lifetime, for which I am incredibly honored and humbled," Nanda said.




Indra Nooyi, the Indian Executive Who Broke the Glass Ceiling, Steps Down at PepsiCo

Nooyi, one of the most powerful and influential business leaders in the world, was regularly featured on the power lists compiled by Forbes and Fortune magazines. She led PepsiCo to several years of growth and profitability.




TRANSFORMING INDIA
Govt. to Set Up Early-Warning System for Air Pollution

The Government has set up a task force to build a strategy for developing an early-warning system on air quality, as well as a system for informing the public when air pollution levels are elevated.


 

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