Trade, clean technology on talks table

US President Barack Obama on Saturday convened a roundtable discussion with a small group of US and Indian business leaders to showcase commercial partnerships exemplifying the promise of each country’s entrepreneur-led economic growth, ahead of his meeting with top corporate captains.

US President Barack Obama on Saturday convened a roundtable discussion with a small group of US and Indian business leaders to showcase commercial partnerships exemplifying the promise of each country’s entrepreneur-led economic growth, ahead of his meeting with top corporate captains.

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The discussions, which focused on growing trade and investment and transfer of clean technology, were attended by Anand Mahindra, vice-chairman and managing director of Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) Group, Ajay Piramal of the Piramal Group, Rashmi Barbhaiya, managing director, Advinus Therapeutics, and Vinod Agarwal, chairman of Advanced Solar Technologies. Obama was accompanied by US commerce secretary Gary Locke and other top officials and corporate leaders.

The discussions covered areas like electric cars, clean transport, solar power, drinking water and research in drugs and pharmaceuticals.

M&M’s electric car Reva and their US-based partner Curtis reportedly generated considerable interest at the meeting.

“Through this partnership, Mahindra Reva and Curtis are advancing the commercialisation and adoption of clean vehicles in India and across the globe,” a White House press release said.

Minnesota-based Pentair Filteration Systems is being used by Piramal’s Sarvajal to develop sustainable drinking water solutions for rural and urban population.

The Epic System, an optical biosensor developed and manufactured by Upstate New York's Inc., is being used in partnership with Advinus Therapeutics for development of new therapies for a variety of diseases, it added. On the menu