India and the US will hold first-ever high-level strategic and commercial dialogue next month in Washington focusing on areas such as ease of doing business and smart cities with an aim to boost investment and raise bilateral trade five-fold to $500 billion annually.
“The Strategic and Commercial Dialogue (S&CD) will be held in Washington DC in 6-7 weeks,” US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Stefan M Selig told reporters here. He is in town to meet with Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia for the preparatory talks.
Selig said these dialogues will revolve around four areas ease of doing business; innovation and entrepreneurship; smart cities with a specific focus on renewable energy, and harmonisation of standards to increase trade. “The S&CD will be the signature, annual dialogue between our two Governments.”