GUWAHATI, Dec 13 � US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell today formally launched the American Business Corner (ABC) in the city, making it the first such centre in Eastern India.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the partner organisation in the centre.
American Business Corners are designed to showcase catalogues and business materials of US companies at the dedicated ABC space allocated by partner organisations nationwide.
Launching the corner, Powell said that it would act as a bridge between entrepreneurs of the North-east and American firms for enhancing bilateral cooperation in matters of trade and commerce, tourism, investment services, etc.
�This is a recognition of the growing trade relations between the US and India, and also of the need to expand bilateral activities to all parts of India, including the North-east,� she said.
Powell said that the North-east had the potential for emerging as a major partner in the growing Indo-US ties, and the US was keen to help it achieve that.
Powell said that the North-east�s share in Indo-US trade was limited due to lack of opportunities and knowledge but that drawback can be removed to a large extent with the setting of the American Business Corner.
Bilateral trade between India and the US shot up to $ 57.8 bn from $ 5.6 bn in the last two decades, and is expected to reach a hundred billion in the years ahead.
After Guwahati, Bhubaneswar and Patna are scheduled to have American Business Corners.
The American Business Corner will assist US companies in promoting their brand and generating business leads from emerging metropolitan cities in India besides showcasing catalogues and business materials of US companies. It is also a value- added service by industry chambers to their members who seek American technologies and equipment to upgrade production capabilities and become more competitive in global markets.
