NEW DELHI, INDIA – U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman today delivered remarks in New Delhi to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on the U.S. and India’s bilateral energy relationship highlighting joint efforts to ensure a peaceful, prosperous, and environmentally responsible energy future.  Secretary Bodman began his three-day visit to India where he met with U.S. business leaders and senior Indian officials, including Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.  While in New Delhi, Secretary Bodman will discuss the importance of critical investments in infrastructure and energy diversification, development and deployment of clean energy technologies, and an open and transparent investment climate.

“As two growing democratic nations, the United States and India have a shared interest in fueling greater economic growth for our people,” Secretary Bodman said.  “Sustained investment in energy infrastructure and policies that promote the development and deployment of clean energy technologies are necessary to put us on a path of greater innovation and security for future generations.”

At the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Secretary Bodman highlighted the importance of coordinated international efforts to promote energy security on a global scale and the critical role that the U.S. and India must play in those efforts.  FICCI represents over 1,500 corporations and 500 chambers of commerce and business associations in India with a stated mission to enhance competitiveness and global reach.  Earlier today, Secretary Bodman met with U.S. business leaders in India where he discussed U.S. status as India’s largest bilateral trading partner and largest foreign investor and outlined opportunities to double bilateral trade over the next three years.

Secretary Bodman also held bilateral meetings with Deputy Chairman of India’s Planning Commission Dr. Sigh Ahluwalia, Minister of Power Sushil Jumar Shinde, and Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora.  During these discussions, Secretary Bodman highlighted cooperation through the U.S. – India Energy Working Group including India’s new membership in the International Thermonuclear Experiment Reactor (ITER), their participation in the FutureGen Initiative, and joint efforts between the two countries in clean coal technology, gas hydrates, and energy efficiency.  Secretary Bodman also discussed India’s role as a growing economy to promote adherence to market principles and coordinate the use of strategic petroleum reserves in accordance to International Energy Agency (IEA) principles in the international community.

Later today, Secretary Bodman will meet with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to discuss the importance of an integrated energy policy to address growing demand for electricity and joint efforts to advance non-proliferation cooperation.  Secretary Bodman will highlight the U.S. – India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act signed into law by President Bush in December 2006 as an important partnership between the nations.  Although additional steps remain, the Act, once implemented, will strengthen nuclear cooperation in a proliferation resistant manner and enable the United States and India to meet growing demand by incorporating clean, safe civilian nuclear power into India’s energy mix.

Tomorrow, Secretary Bodman will continue his visit in New Delhi where he will deliver remarks on regional cooperation and use of clean energy technologies at the Annual South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy Conference before departing for Mumbai.  In Mumbai, Secretary Bodman is expected to participate in a roundtable discussion with Indian venture capitalists and visit with the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission to discuss the nations’ international cooperation on civil nuclear energy and nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

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Anne Womack Kolton, (202) 586-4940