Ahead of Modi’s US visit, Jaitley drums up India story, promises predictable tax regime

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has already launched an outreach to the US investors, allaying their concerns about the business environment in India and making a strong pitch for scaling up bilateral trade and investment. Assuring a fair and predictable taxation regime, Mr Jaitley invited US investors to invest in various sectors, including infrastructure, manufacturing and defence.

Read More

Ahead of Modi’s Silicon Valley visit, Infosys cleared in US visa probe

In a shot in the arm for the Narendra Modi government ahead of his US visit, the US Department of Labour has cleared Indian IT giant Infosys of visa violation charges. The non-immigrant visas of H-1B and L-1 are the most sought after visas in the US by foreign workers to work in high skill technology sectors and Indians get the maximum number of these visas in the US. However, it has been a major point of contention between India and the US, with India pushing the US to liberalise the visa regime in this category.

Read More

Kerry intones song of India, lauds resilient democracy, innovation

It’s a cheering and uplifting tribute from the US to the power of India in the world. In an Independence Day message to India on the eve of its 69th Independence Day, US Secretary of State John Kerry has underlined the ethos of India and what it represents in an evolving world order. “Since 1947, India has stood as a beacon for the world, as an economic power that prides innovation, as a resilient democracy in the face of terror and as a strategic power that upholds international norms.”

“As the world’s largest democracies, the US and India stand side by side in defending and promoting the freedoms and values we hold,” said Mr Kerry, in a message on behalf of US President Barack Obama.

“As was highlighted during President Obama’s visit for India’s Republic Day in January, the US takes pride in our indispensable partnership with India, a friendship built on our shared democratic values, the entrepreneurial spirit of our people, and our shared interests,” said the US diplomat, a robust backer of stronger India-US relations and an ardent supporter of the India-US nuclear rapprochement.

Alluding to the enduring legacy of India’s iconic figures associated with the freedom movement, Mr Kerry said that these leaders contributed to establishing a united, inclusive republic and inspired leaders from across the globe.

Read More