Convening

Business Expansion Opportunities in South and Central Asia

• Diplomatic Engagement
• Business and Trade
• Private Sector
• Public Sector

Ms. Kate Beale, Associate Vice President at PhRMA, Puru Trivedi, Managing Director of Corporate Relations at Meridian International Center, and Melissa Russell, International Advocacy Manager at Caterpillar, take notes during AUSTR Wilson’s remarks. On April 19, 2019, the Meridian Corpor ate Council partnered with Caterpillar and PhRMA to host a luncheon welcoming Christopher Wilson , Assist ant U.S. Trade Representative on South and Central Asia .

Mr. Wilson spoke mostly on the U.S. - India trade relationship. He stressed the importance of India as not only as a political ally, but also as an economic partner that is a major destinatio n for U.S investment and trade. India is quickly emerging as one of the top business centers of the future . Subimal Bhattacharjee, Country Head at General Dynamics India, provides his insight on U.S. – India trade relations. Additionally, however, the future of U.S. – India trade relations is uncertain.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump declared that he intended to terminate India’s Generalized System of Preference (GSP). The program is the largest U.S trade preference program and is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for beneficiary countries. Because India is amid a general election, preoccupation with the upcoming election distracts officials from making substantial progress on trade negotiations between India and the United States.

The U.S. Trade Representative believes that South and Central Asia present tremendous business expansion opportunities and is taking steps to stabilize and enhance U.S. economic engagement with Asia. Sponsor Photo by Jessica Latos Photo by Jessica Latos Photo by Jessica Latos Photo by Jessica Latos Photo by Jessica Latos Photo by Jessica Latos Photo by Jessica Latos Photo by Jessica Latos Photo by Jessica Latos Project summary Business Expansion Opportunities in South and Central Asia | April 2019 Number of Visitors: 1 Number of Attendees: 23 Regions: South and Central Asia Countries: India Impact Areas: Business and Trade Program Areas: Diplomatic Engagement Partners: Private Sector , Public Sector .