Washington: India and the US have discussed "practical steps" to reduce the barriers to bilateral high-technology trade while enhancing security of such trade.

The discussions took place during a two-day meeting of the US-India High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG), co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and US Undersecretary of Commerce Kenneth I Juster, the US Commerce Department said in a press release.

Both Saran and Juster expressed high satisfaction with the outcome of the talks, which concluded in Washington yesterday (Nov 19, 2004).

The meeting "built on the progress that has been made in increasing US-India high-technology trade since the HTCG was established two years ago. The HTCG has proven to be a very effective forum" aimed at reducing barriers to bilateral high-technology trade "while safeguarding trade in sensitive items. We look forward to further meetings of the HTCG in 2005," Juster said.

Saran pointed out that the Group also covers Nano-technology but it is recognised that India is at an early stage in that area and "its capabilities are still rather limited".

"We are, of course, focusing attention on how the United States would help us in terms of building up capacity in this area," said Saran. "Perhaps we could have some academic exchanges. We have also agreed there would be cooperation in this particular sector between the US National Science Foundation and our Department of Science and Technology."