| "There is a view among both sides to have another body which can provide inputs not just confined to the corporate sector but look at a broader picture and issues. Since the Indo-US CEOs' forum comprises company heads, its suggestions are confined to the corporate sector," a government official said. |
| The matter was discussed at a meeting of the India-US trade policy forum. The Indian side was led by Commerce Secretary G K Pillai while the US side was represented by Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia. |
| Officials said both sides have agreed to constitute the joint body by January end, ahead of the next meeting of the trade policy forum. The two sides propose to hold a ministerial level meeting of the forum in the first quarter of 2007. |
| According to sources, the PSAG is expected to be headed either by an academician or by a retired government official. |
| India and the US already have a number of initiatives to promote and accelerate trade and investment. These include a group to promote cooperation in information technology, working group on ICT, India-US economic dialogue, India-US economic and financial forum, the India-US energy dialogue and the India-US knowledge initiative on agriculture. |
| Both countries have agreed to devise an action plan and give technical assistance to promote innovation, creativity and technological advancement by providing a vibrant intellectual property rights regime. |
| Other areas include initiation of a bilateral infrastructure investment programme that will focus on identifying investment opportunities, incentives and challenges in key infrastructure sectors. |
| Indian and the US are also keen on forming a working group on legal services to discuss market access and other relevant issues. |
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