NEW DELHI: The U.S.-India Working Group on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) met earlier this week to explore areas for collaboration on implementing the Digital India initiative among others sectors.
The meeting took place in Washington on January 14-15, an official statement said today.
The Working Group aims to strengthen collaboration between the governments and private sector of the two nations in the field of ICT, it added.
Participants agreed to continue to explore opportunities for collaboration on implementing India's ambitious Digital India initiative, with the goal of enhancing digital infrastructure, deploying e-governance and e-services, and expanding the diffusion and use of ICT, it said.
During the two-day working group meeting, U.S. and Indian government representatives held extensive discussions on ICT policy issues, focusing on accelerating broadband deployment, aligning spectrum policy for the mobile era and exchanging views on Internet governance and best practices in ICT and telecommunications regulatory policy, it added.
"They also discussed issues relating to the international mobility of Indian skilled professionals," the statement said.
A panel of non-government experts also shared insights on strategies that may help India achieve the goals outlined in the 'Make in India' and 'Digital India'.
Participants agreed to continue discussion of policies that stimulate rapid diffusion and use of ICT products and services and facilitate cross border trade that reduces costs to consumers and businesses., it added.
"In this context, the U.S. side noted the Indian concerns with regard to mobility of skilled Indian professionals and agreed that the U.S. government will continue to engage on visa issues for skilled professionals," the statement said.
Besides, the Indian side noted the U.S. concerns relating to equipment testing and certification, and agreed to engage on issues relating to equipment testing, it added.
Ambassador Daniel A Sepulveda the Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy at the U.S. Department of State and Department of Electronics and IT Secretary RS Sharma led the U.S. and Indian delegations, respectively.
The U.S. and India plan to hold the next ICT Working Group meet in India later this year.
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