KPMG India Chief advises Indian business to engage with US Congress Members on visa issue

Indian States urged to be pro-active in building ties with US States
Addresses FICCI Executive Committee on ‘Future of India-US Business Relations’
NEW DELHI: Mr.Arun M Kumar, Chairman & CEO, KPMG India & former Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets & Director General of the U.S and Foreign Commercial Service, has held out a multi-pronged prescription to advance India’s
commercial relations with the US under the country’s new administration.
Speaking on ‘Future of India-US Business Relations’ at FICCI’s Executive Committee Meeting here on Wednesday, Mr.Kumar expressed optimism on India’s commercial ties with the US, and advised Indian trade and industry leaders to engage more with the Members of the US Congress to remove the irritants posed by US visa policy and impress upon them the need to deepen business relations between the two countries.
At the same time, “US businesses need to speak up more on the gains that would accrue from engaging with India. While it is clear that the productivity in the US is closely linked with trade with India, there is a need to propagate this in the US, particularly with Members of the US Congress,” Mr. Kumar said and added that there is also the imperative to focus on SMEs in the US who do not know much about the Indian market.
Mr.Kumar also called for greater engagement with US at the States level and commended Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu’s initiatives in deepening ties with States in the US. More Chief Ministers should take the lead in this regard, he said. The US States, he added, were proactive in promoting trade and commerce and Indian States could profit from their experience.
Additionally, Indian businesses need to make a meaningful impact in US commercial circles through a demonstrative effort of creating a large number of jobs in the US so that their voice could be heard on strengthening business ties with the US.
Mr. Pankaj R. Patel, President, FICCI and Chairman & Managing Director, Zydus Cadila - Cadila Healthcare Ltd., in his remarks, said that FICCI, on its part, has submitted a note to the Commerce Ministry on ways to boost two-way trade with the US. It details the trade strategies adopted by other countries, particularly China in deepening business relations with the US.