Locke to lead high-power trade delegation to India

"Exports are leading the US economic recovery, spurring future economic growth and creating jobs in America," he said in a statement.

"The business leaders joining me on this mission see the great potential to sell their goods and services to India, helping drive innovation and create jobs in both countries," Locke said announcing the details of the February 6-11 mission to India.

The delegation, which also includes senior officials from the Export-Import Bank (EX-IM) and the Trade Development Agency (TDA), will make stops in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

During the visit, Locke will highlight export opportunities for US businesses in the advanced industrial sectors, of civil-nuclear trade, defence and security, civil aviation, and information and communication technologies.

Locke accompanied President Obama to India in November, where they witnessed more than USD 10 billion in business deals between US companies and Indian private sector and government entities, supporting 50,000 American jobs.

The India business development mission will help build on the exporting success US companies had 2010 – up 17 per cent compared to the same period in 2009, the Commerce Department said.

It will be Locke's second trade mission as Commerce Secretary; in May, he led a clean energy business development mission to China and Indonesia.

The Commerce Department said exports represent a critical part of the economy and are a key component of the Obama administration's efforts to spur new job creation.

A year ago, President Obama outlined his National Export Initiative (NEI), which seeks to double exports by 2015, in support of several million new US jobs.

"The NEI enhances the US government's trade promotion efforts, increases credit to businesses – especially small- and medium-sized businesses – looking to export, and continues to improve efforts to remove trade barriers for US companies in foreign markets," it said.

The delegation includes ABSi Corporation, Exelon Nuclear Partners, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Intuit Inc, Kent Displays, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Boeing, among other leading corporates.