US commerce secretary Gary Locke to visit India again in February

US commerce secretary Gary Locke will lead a trade mission to India in February and it would be aimed at promoting American exports of high-technology products.

Locke, who is scheduled to visit India from February 6-11, would make a stop at Mumbai and Bangalore, apart from New Delhi, an official statement said.

Locke is accompanying US President Barack Obama, who arrived in Mumbai today as part of three-day visit to India.

Exports are leading the economic recovery in the US, spurring growth and creating jobs, Locke said while addressing the US-India Business and Entrepreneurship Summit in Mumbai.

"Increasing trade between the US and India will help drive innovation and create jobs in both countries. As trading partners, US companies can help India meet the ambitious economic and social goals laid out by its government, while the Indian market holds enormous potential for the US exporters," Locke said.

The trade mission would highlight export opportunities for the US businesses in India across a broad range of advanced industrial sectors including civil-nuclear trade, defence and security, civil aviation, and information and communication, he said.

Earlier this year, Obama outlined his National Export Initiative (NEI), which seeks to double exports by 2015, to support creation of several million new jobs in America.

The NEI is aimed at enhancing the US government's trade promotion efforts, increasing credit to businesses, especially small and medium-sized businesses, exports and ways to remove trade barriers for the US companies.

During 2009-10, the bilateral trade between India and the US was about $36 billion.