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Pallone Begins Trade & Economic Trip to India

January 5, 2004

Long Branch, NJ--- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, begins a weeklong trip to India where he will visit Bombay, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bhopal. The New Jersey congressmans primary goal for his trip is to develop economic opportunities between the two nations and emphasize to both business and political leaders the importance of viewing trade as a two-way street. Pallone joins a New Jersey delegation of the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce (AICC) on its second business development and trade mission to India.

"I am looking forward to participating in what promises to be an opportunity for educational exchange and increased trade and investment between our two nations, the United States and India," Pallone said before leaving. "My goal is twofold. I would like the delegation to identify opportunities for Indian companies to invest in the United States, specifically New Jersey, in an effort to create American jobs. In addition, I plan to advocate for Indian economic reforms that would provide for increased sales of American products in India."

During his trip, Pallone will visit the headquarters of the Ranbaxy pharmaceutical facilities in New Delhi, a company that has invested and created jobs in the United States.

"Ranbaxy is a leading pharmaceutical company that has expanded worldwide, including the U.S. and in my home state of New Jersey," Pallone continued. "As an Indian company that has invested in the U.S., worked hard to become one of the top ten generic drug companies in the U.S., and created many American jobs, I see them as a guiding force for other Indian companies that are looking to expand."

The New Jersey congressman also plans to visit the site of the 1984 chemical disaster in Bhopal that killed 4,000 people and injured more than 20,000. During his tour, Pallone will also meet with victims of the disaster. Last October, Pallone joined eight of his House colleagues in filing an amicus brief on behalf of the victims of the chemical disaster.

As the number of Indians infected with HIV/AIDS continues to escalate, Pallone plans to meet with officials of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) later this week in New Delhi. Kapil Sibal, a Member of Parliament and the Co-Chair of the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum, will join Pallone on the tour IAVI. A group of Parliamentarians under the leadership of Sibal has been very active on HIV/AIDS in India and visited Washington with IAVI in June to speak to Members of Congress about critical funding for this program.