(a) whether India and the USA have decided to focus on promoting greater understanding and exchanging of information technology at the recently held third meeting of the India-U.S. High Technology Group; and
(b) if so, the salient features thereof;
(a) whether India and the USA have decided to focus on promoting greater understanding and exchanging of information technology at the recently held third meeting of the India-U.S. High Technology Group; and
(b) if so, the salient features thereof;
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) & (b) Yes sir, cooperation in high technology between India and U.S. was advanced by the third meeting of the High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) in Washington DC on 18-19 November 2004. The Group chaired by the Foreign Secretary and U.S. Under Secretary for Commerce, seeks to explore ways of enhancing trade in dual use items and focus on high-tech areas including information technology. Data Privacy was one of the main themes for the industry-government segment of the meeting. Salient features that emerged from discussion include:
(i) Officer and staff level contacts were exchanged for better coordination between the two Governments.
(ii) Government to Government discussions on data privacy issues would continue.
(iii) It was decided that both the Governments would participate in and support an industry-proposed forum on data privacy in India.