Indian exports to US at 3.7 B in 2000-01 8212; Nasscom

The US Congress had, recently, approved and sent to the White House a proposal to allow nearly 600,000 H1B visas, mostly for high-tech workers, over three years.

Mehta said that software exports to America is likely to touch 5.8 billion during 2001-02 adding the overall software exports in that period was expected at ten billion.

Speaking on the occasion, Michael J Copps, Assistant Secretary for Trade Development, US Department of Commerce said India and America have decided to launch a series of programmes to increase co-operation between the public and private sectors of both India and the US to step up activities in E-commerce.

The programmes developed in close consultation with the US and Indian business communities, envisages planning a trade mission to identify and match US companies with potential Indian business partners in IT and telecom industries.

The programme also includes orientation visits focussed on policy and technology topics such as E-commerce, E-governance and E-banking. Other initiatives included seminars offering small business the opportunity to assess their technology needs and implement solutions using interactive diagonistic software, he added.