Indo-US talks: Concerns around Immigration bill top agenda

US secretary of state John Kerry is in India, his first visit since he took over from Hillary Clinton. He met external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Monday and one of the key concerns raised by Khurshid was over the immigration reforms bill, reports CNBC-TV18's Rituparna Bhuyan.

They discussed in their bilateral talks an entire gamut of issues. From the Indian side, Kerry was told in clear terms that Indian companies are concerned about the immigration reforms bill. Khurshid mentioned that during the US-India CEOs meeting, this issue will be raised by Indian companies.  "Today, we talked about space cooperation, about technology possibilities of joint venture's. We talked about procurement issues between our countries, about defence, co-development, co- manufacture, co-purchase. We talked about some of the impediments to joint investment and to foreign investment. We were reassured certainly from my part, that India is taking important steps to try to address each of those concerns and if we are committed to taking steps to address the concerns of out friends in India," John Kerry told reporters. External affairs minister Salman Khurshid  meanwhile said, "The IT sector has expressed deep concern. They are also in touch with their counter parts and public representatives in the US. We have brought this to the secretaries’ notice. I must acknowledge that he has promised to do whatever is possible for him at this end." Three critical issues were discussed. First was the possibility of a Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements (BIPA). The Indian side told the US officials that the finance ministry is finalising the Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements (BIPA) draft. India and US have already been talking about an investment agreement but those talks were not going anywhere. Monday’s discussions have given a new lease of life to those talks. Secondly on shale gas, the US side assured that there will be a port on the US side that will be designated for export of shale gas to India. And lastly on defence, foreign direct investment (FDI), the US side assured that they are ready to cooperate with India on co-production related to the defence sector.