Cooperation in high technology between India and US was advanced by the third meeting of the High Technology Cooperation Group (HTCG) in Washington DC on 18-19 November, 200. The Group chaired by the Foreign Secretary and US Under Secretary for Commerce, seeks to explore ways of enhancing trade in dual use items and focus on high-tech areas including information technology. Data Privacy was one of the main themes for the industry-government segment of the meeting. Salient features that emerged from discussion include-
i) Officers and staff level contacts were exchanged for better coordination between the two Governments.
ii) Government to Government discussions on data privacy issues would continue.
iii) It was decided that both the Governments would participate in and support an industry-proposed forum on data privacy in India.
This information was given to Lok Sabha today by the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh in reply to a question by Shri Suresh Kalmadi.
AK/SK/JA