Secretary Locke Touts U.S.-India Trade, Opens U.S. Pavillion
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke stressed the importance of innovation in the U.S.-India trade relationship today in Bangalore with remarks and a discussion with students and faculty at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) before officially opening the U.S. Pavilion at Aero India 2011. Bangalore is the second stop of his three-city high-technology business development trade mission with U.S companies to India.
During the discussion at IISc, Locke interacted with students, research scholars, and professors at one of India's premier educational institutions for science and research. Locke discussed how India's efforts to build a more open commercial environment will help empower the next generation of Indian innovators to help solve some of the world's most pressing problems like climate change, poverty and disease.
"I'm optimistic and confident the world is equipped to deal with the challenges we face – and a big part of the reason is seeing young people like you," said Locke. Because although these problems are daunting, they do have solutions. Many of them can be solved with the science, math and engineering skills that are taught and learned at IISC every day."
The secretary added that unlocking the full potential of IISc students and researchers, and indeed the entire U.S.-India trade relationship, depended on India continuing to work towards "a regulatory infrastructure that encourages the freer flow of ideas, people, and technologies across its borders."
