Indian industry found Obama sincere and dynamic

MUMBAI - India Inc. found US President Barack Obama a “sincere and dynamic” person willing to further business relations between the two countries, a top official said Saturday.

“His appeal is truly very positive and inspiring for the Indian industry to take the lead and enhance business relations between the two countries,” Confederation of Indian Industry director general Chandrajit Banerjee told IANS.

Banerjee said Obama’s plans to make the Indo-US business partnership one of the most defining one of the 21st century in the world truly sounded “sincere”.

“President Obama has looked at a lot more of a two-way relationship. This, we are sure will now encourage more the small and business enterprises to also enter the field,” he pointed out.

Besides follow-up action on Saturday’s presidential speech, Banerjee said newer areas of collaboration between the two countries would also be considered.

Banerjee said that when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the US, he was also received with great warmth and affection - “now, we must take these sentiments ahead for the mutual advantage of both the countries”.

Obama began his maiden visit to India Saturday by promising to remove restrictions on sensitive high-tech exports, a nagging irritant in the evolution of bilateral ties, even as he declared deals worth $15 billion that would support some 54,000 American jobs and seek to answer critics back home.