Team Blitz India
WASHINGTON: The US and India on June 22announced multiple agreements in the defence, technology, microchips and visa renewal sector to strengthen the economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit.
In defence the major deals are purchase of MQ9-Reaper drones and an agreement between General Electric (GE) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the co-production of GE 414 jet engines in India. This is the first time the US has allowed this highly sensitive technology to be shared with any other country,
On the semi conductor front, Micron Technology, announced that it would invest up to $825 million in a new chip assembly and test facility in Gujarat. The memory chip company said the total investment in the facility will be $2.75 billion. Of that total, 50% will come from the Indian government and 20% from the Gujarat government.
India, US announced to sign the Artemis Accords, a US-led alliance seeking to facilitate international collaboration in planetary exploration and research.
As a result of this, ISRO will partner the NASA in sending a joint mission to the International Space Station, a permanent laboratory in space, next year.
Regarding the visas, the Biden administration is set to introduce in-country renewable H-1B visa, a major decision that would help thousands of Indian professionals staying in the country to continue with their jobs without the hassle of travelling overseas for the renewal of their work visas as part of people-to-people initiative, a senior administration official said.
