|
KOLKATA, India – Hoping to wean India from Iranian oil imports, U.S. Secretary ofState Hillary Rodham Clinton is urging Indian leaders to explorealternative suppliers as she opens a three-day visit to theenergy-starved South Asian giant that will also focus on regionalsecurity and easing trade restrictions. Clinton arrived in the eastern city of Kolkata — the firstsecretary of state to visit the former colonial capital of 14million — on Sunday after visits to China and Bangladesh asofficials traveling with her said the Iranian oil imports would topan agenda that includes India's relations with nuclear rivalPakistan and the future of Afghanistan. India has huge energy needs to fuel its rapid growth and has madesome progress in easing its dependence on Iranian oil. But a seniorU.S. official said the United States wants to see more. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to previewClinton's private discussions in Kolkata and New Delhi, said the"trend lines are good" but "we really need to receive assurancesthat they are going to continue to make good progress." Like other major consumers of Iranian oil, India could face U.S.sanctions by the end of June if the Obama administration determinesit has not made significant cuts in imports under a law aimed atsqueezing Iran's petroleum industry to press the country to complywith international demands over its nuclear program. A dozen European nations and Japan have already been spared fromthose sanctions after the administration determined they hadsubstantially reduced their Iranian oil imports. India, along withChina, South Korea, Turkey and South Africa, has still not receivedsuch waivers. India imports around 70 percent of its oil, and about 9 percent ofthe imports are from Iran. The U.S. official said India hadrecently stepped up imports of oil from Saudi Arabia to make up forthe reduction in Iranian oil and that the U.S. was eager to see theIndians explore other alternatives. Iran is India's second-largestcrude oil supplier after Saudi Arabia and according to mediareports imports 550,000 barrels a day. India has been pushing its oil companies to cut back their crudeimports from Iran and an Indian official, speaking on condition ofanonymity per custom, said the government is willing to discuss thematter. The official expressed hope India will be exempted from thesanctions. "We believe we have a strong case, which we will put forth," theofficial said. India and Iran reached a deal earlier this year that would allowIndia to pay for about 45 percent its Iranian oil purchases inrupees. Iran would then use the Indian currency to buy goods fromIndia. International economic sanctions on Iran had made oil tradedifficult, because Indian oil importers had to scramble to findbanks willing to handle transactions with Tehran. The barterexchange would help India pay for the Iranian crude withoutresorting to dollar payments, thus bypassing international banks. An Indian delegation visited Iran in March to promote Indian goodsincluding machinery, iron, steel, minerals and automobiles andClinton's visit coincides with that of a large Iranian group thatwill be in New Delhi to explore Indian goods and services Tehrancan buy to offset the enormous rupee payments running into billionsof dollars that Iran has accumulated. The U.S. official downplayed the presence of the Iraniandelegation, saying. "I don't think we are too concerned about it."The official added that the U.S. special envoy for global energyissues, Carlos Pasqual, will visit India later in May to follow upon Clinton's talks, the official said. In her talks with Indian officials, Clinton will also be pressingfor the country to continue economic reforms and tradeliberalization, including dropping restrictions on foreigninvestment in the finance sector and allowing large westernretailers to open up, the U.S. official said. Before heading to New Delhi on Monday, Clinton will meet in Kolkatawith Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the top elected leader of WestBengal state. Banerjee, a key partner of India's ruling coalition,has in recent months opposed many of the Prime Minister ManmohanSingh-led Congress party's plans to carry out economic reforms. Clinton is expected to push for expanding U.S. investmentopportunities in West Bengal and seek Banerjee's views on the entryof WalMart-type multi-brand retailers into India. Banerjee has beena vocal opponent of opening up India's retail sector saying itwould harm poor shop owners. In talks with Singh in New Delhi, Clinton will look at regionalsecurity issues and the India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue meetingscheduled to be held in Washington next month. India's majorconcern, however, is the security situation in Afghanistanfollowing the drawdown of NATO troops from the war-torn country in2014. India has been taking a lead in the reconstruction efforts inAfghanistan and plans to host a regional investors' conference onAfghanistan in June. The U.S. will also be looking at trade and investment opportunitiesin India. With its economy expected to grow at around 7 percentover the next few years, India is an important market for U.S.exports. Trade between the two countries is expected to cross $100billion this year. However, some of the sheen has worn off the high expectations fromU.S.-India relations in the years following the signing of alandmark civil nuclear deal in 2008. Washington was riled whenIndia chose a French company for an $11 billion order for 126fighter jets for the Indian air force. India has sourced numerousother big ticket defense purchases from U.S. companies. There is also a growing perception in Washington that the Indiangovernment has not delivered on economic reforms and has beendragging its feet on implementing key nuclear legislation thatwould enable U.S. companies to invest in India. Over the past year, Singh's government has been bogged down by aseries of scandals and resistance from its coalition partners thathave brought economic reforms to a halt. ____ George reported from New Delhi. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as OLED.EL , spectroanalysis for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits China LED manufacturers.
Related Articles -
OLED.EL, spectroanalysis,
| 
