'More Indo-US collaboration will improve millions of lives'

Indo-US collaborations like the American Business Corner would make it easier for Indian companies to work with American companies, and in the process improve the lives of millions of people in the years to come, the United States Consul General, Chennai, Jennifer McIntyre, said here today.

"Our two countries can only benefit from sharing our resources and expertise. Incredible growth has been happening in Indiaa's Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, like Madurai and these American Business Corners will make it easier for Indian companies to work with American companies," McIntyre said.

The Consul General today inaugurated the American Business Centre located at the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry premises here.

"Even more importantly, these types of connections, in addition to continued hard work on the US-India relationship, will play a role in improving the lives of hundreds of millions of people in the years to come," she said.

McIntyre said that over the past few decades, the Indo-US bilateral economic cooperation had resulted in dramatic increases in investment and trade.

US-India foreign direct investment increased by nearly 165% between 2005 and 2009, she said. US exports to India have quadrupled over this last decade, while Indian exports to the US have grown by 180%, McIntyre said.

Adding that business-to-business engagement was at the "very forefront of relations" between two countries, she said the instructions from the US government was to continue to open doors for greater private sector engagement.