A group of influential American lawmakers have introduced a legislation asking the Obama administration to help India join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, headquartered in Singapore, reports Silicon India News.
APEC is a forum for 21 economies to promote free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region – its members being: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the U.S. and Vietnam.
“Membership in APEC would provide India a constructive forum to glean insight from other Asian countries that have already taken significant steps to advance their economies,” Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific Matt Salmon, who introduced the legislation in the U.S. Congress, said.
“An economically prosperous and regionally engaged India benefits the U.S.’ strategic goals on Asia,” said Congressman Ami Bera, the only Indian-American lawmaker in the current Congress, Co-Chair Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans.
Stipulating that India’s location within the Asia-Pacific region provides an avenue for continued trade and investment partnerships with APEC member states, the legislation asks Secretary of State John Kerry to develop a strategy to obtain membership status for India in APEC, including participation in related meetings, working groups, activities and mechanisms.
