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PM to showcase India as investment destination in US

Ambarish K Diwanji in New Delhi

The Advanced Liaison and Security team for Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to the United States is in Washington to prepare his itinerary. Led by principal secretary to the prime minister Brajesh Mishra, it comprises key officials from the ministry of external affairs and security experts.

Mishra has held meetings with officials from the state department, including Karl Inderfurth who is on the South Asia desk, to discuss the modalities of the visit. Ministry officials are keen that the prime minister also meets with the two presidential candidates - Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W Bush, Jr.

While a meeting with Gore is almost certain, Bush will be busy with his presidential campaign. "It is for this reason that we might include a visit to Houston in Texas," said sources. Bush is the governor of Texas. Should Vajpayee visit Houston, he would have visited cities in the east, north, west and south of the US.

The prime minister will address the special Millennium Summit of the United Nations General Assembly, which is expected to draw vast numbers of the world's top leaders as they seek to guide the world into the third millennium in the Christian Era.

The prime minister, according to sources in the MEA, is expected to visit other cities in the US besides Washington DC and New York, details of which are still unavailable. Chicago and the West Coast, home to the Silicon Valley, are the places he has in mind.

There is intense lobbying among various Indian communities to ensure that Vajpayee visits their city.

Vajpayee's visit to the United States, coming six months after US President Bill Clinton's hugely successful tour of India in March 2000, will be another feather in his government's cap. The government is keen to aggressively market India as a destination for global investment funds and above all, showcase the booming information technology talent that the country possesses.

A huge delegation comprising businessmen and mediapersons will be accompanying Vajpayee. Many in the business team will be captains of the new economy companies whose mission will be to captivate US audiences and garner business.

Besides the US visit, much importance is being attached to the Millennium Summit, where India is expected to push for containing cross-border terrorism. India has already sent a draft proposal to the UN on countering global terrorism, which has been well received.

New Delhi will push its case for taking stringent action against countries that support terrorist organisations. There is some belief that India might agree to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty during Vajpayee's UN visit, but officials rule out the possibility given the lack of consensus in India.

Either way, there is no doubt that Vajpayee's tour of the United States will be one of the most important excursions undertaken by the present government.

EARLIER REPORT
Vajpayee to visit US in September, follow-up on gains of Clinton visit

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