The US-India Business Council (USIBC) gave a slew of ideas to the new Biden Administration to strengthen the India-US partnership. The United States and India share a common set of values, robust democratic systems, and cultures of entrepreneurship, as well as longstanding people-to-people ties that make our countries natural partners, the think tank said in a statement.
The recommendations covered a number of issues ranging from reconstituting business relations with India as well as creating a new digital partnership under the headship of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The USIBC also emphasised the role of Indian expatriates in building bridges between the two nations.
"A successful Indian-American diaspora— including many in the tech sector—provides US and Indian industry with access to capital, technology, and a high-quality pool of technical talent. The Biden administration should invest in partnerships that position the United States and India to lead the next generation of technology development," Nisha Biswal, USIBC president, said.
The USIBC also recommended an endowment for US and Indian scholars to support people-to-people ties and strengthen skills development for employers in the US and India.
In keeping with the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the think tank called for an accelerated adoption of digital technology in a transformed government, industry and society.
"We anticipate a “new normal” with greater emphasis on online services, virtual platforms, and hybrid environments," the statement read.
They also recommended reconstituting the existing US-India Trade and Commercial dialogue, creating a new digital partnership, restructuring the US-India Strategic Energy Dialogue to include climate and sustainable growth and expanding the US-India Health Dialogue's mandate and including private sector participation.