Juster (inset) said the US seeks to assist India’s effort to build up “its indigenous defence capabilities as well as enhance the inter-operability of our two forces” as major defence partners in the Indo-Pacific region. 

“India should seize the strategic opportunity - through trade and investment - to become a major hub for US business in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said while addressing a session hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (Eastern Region) and the Bengal Chamber of Commerce here. India is in the midst of an economic surge as it integrates more into the global economy, and the US trade and investment relationship with India continues to grow.

“Bilateral trade has gone from approximately $20 billion in 2001 to $115 billion in 2016. Of course, given the size of our respective markets, there is still plenty of room to expand these numbers,” he said. Juster asserted there were many benefits in expanding the bilateral economic relationship and making India a regional hub for the US business.