Are Indian business and trade ready to encash the opportunities with the opening up of the market?
RS: Indian businessmen will pick up very fast because they know where the demand is. On the one side there is China and on the other the USA. Indian business community knows that. But while Indian businessmen and trade are well aware of the US market, American aware ness of India is very poor. Another main advantages that India failed to realize till now is that the US is basically wary of communists and being a buffer go between China, India could have enhanced trade with the US long ago. Today however the situation has changed a lot. The Sino-Indian trade is also increasing significantly. But we had lost this opportunity while aligning with the Soviet bloc. Now the Soviet bloc has disintegrated and we are also often. Sooner we enter Free Trade Agreement with the US better for Indian and American businessmen. AS: What could be the probable impact on the recent Defence cooperation agreement signed between India and the US on Indo-US trade and economic relationship? RS: The commercial a
