Click to play videoWashington: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh kicks off his state visit to the US on Monday. Among his major engagements is a meeting with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates who will call on the Indian Prime Minister to discuss strengthening defence and strategic co-operation between the two countries.
The US is also interested in several multi-billion dollar defence contracts coming up in India most notably the $10 billion order for multi-role combat fighters.
The US had also indicated ahead of the visit that it would like to see the cap on foreign equity in the defence equipment sector here in India raised from 26per cent to 49 per cent.
Singh is also scheduled to give two major speeches on Monday - the first to the US Chamber of Commerce. The Prime Minister also has a large business delegation with him and there is tremendous interest in the American business community in learning how India has seemingly escaped the worst of the economic recession and also to seek ways to strengthen bilateral trade which is now worth over $43 billion.
He will also give a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations where he is expected to give India's assessment of the strategic and security scenario in South Asia especially with regard to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He may also speak about the role India would like to play in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.
He will also meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi as well as several senior law makers from the House and the Senate will call on the PM during the day.
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