Saying that strengthening Indo-UStrade ties makes abundant economic sense, a US expert says the US can helpIndia's growth by incentivising New Delhi to open up its economy.
"Within a generation, India will likely become one of the United States'most vital diplomatic partners," said Daniel Twining, senior fellow forAsia at the German Marshall Fund of the United States in an opinion piece inthe Wall Street Journal.
"As the US pivots toward Asia, India will prove more capable than anyexisting US ally in advancing interests from defeating terrorism to managingChina's rise," he wrote noting "Already, Washington and New Delhihave developed a far-reaching strategic partnership centred on defencecooperation."
"In contrast, Indo-US economic relations remain underdeveloped, stymied bya lack of ision and Indian skittishness toward liberalization," Twiningsaid suggesting, "A new trade and energy partnership could make up forlost time."
"To cement its burgeoning alliance with New Delhi, and to help Indiareform and grow, the US should offer the triple incentive of a free-tradeagreement, assured energy supplies and membership in the Asia-Pacific EconomicCooperation forum (APEC)," he said.
According to Twining the "best way to elevate Indo-US relations abovefeuding bureaucracies is for top political leaders to set out a compellingaspirational goal and empower government institutions to deliver on it."
"Strengthening Indo-US trade ties makes abundant economic sense," hesaid citing the US National Intelligence Council forecasts that India willbecome the world's biggest driver of middle-class growth by 2030.
"India needs to grow very fast for a very long time to underwrite itssecurity in a tough neighborhood, and to uplift more poor people than exist inall of Sub-Saharan Africa," Twining said suggesting, "The US can helpby incentivising India to open up its economy."