Open Sky Policy has Improved People to People Contact, Connectivity, trade and Commerce and Tourism between India and US Says Ajit Singh US Delegation Led by Secretary of Commerce meets Civil Avi

Ch. Ajit Singh, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation has said that the open sky policy between USA and India that exists since 2005 has immensely improved the people to people contact, connectivity, trade and commerce and tourism between the two countries. The Minister said this in the meeting with a US delegation led by Mr. John E. Bryson, Secretary of Commerce today in New Delhi.

The Indian delegation led by the Civil Aviation Ministers comprised, among others, Secretary Civil Aviation, Director General Civil Aviation, Chairman, Airports Authority of India and other senior officers of the Ministry. The US delegation had representatives of US Commerce Department, Department of State and various US companies having stakes in aviation.

While welcoming the delegation, the Civil Aviation Minister underscored the importance of strong ties that India has developed with USA in the Civil Aviation sector. He underlined the role that Umbrella Agreement between Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has played in developing and modernizing the managerial operations and led to technical improvisation. He also flagged the areas which have been identified by the India US High Technology Cooperation Group for enhanced cooperation for promoting investments and trade in India. These include Airport Infrastructure Development, Air Traffic Control Modernisation, General Aviation, Centres of Excellence and Aviation Training. The Minister also referred to India US cooperation towards adoption of both the Delhi Declaration and the Moscow Declaration on the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) which shows a common position against the scheme.

Mr. Bryson said that the US has always rated its collaboration with India in aviation very high and accordingly worked towards greater cooperation in the areas of mutual interest. The representatives of US Inc in the delegation endorsed the sentiments expressed by the US Secretary of Commerce on the conducive ambience that they find in the sector for their respective areas of business and trade.

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