New Delhi
28 October 2010
Barack Obama's itinerary in Mumbai and to a lesser extent New Delhi
resembles a CEO's than a visiting head of state.
The major focus of his engagements in Mumbai will be his message on economics, on
increasing exports, supporting jobs in the US, and commercial deals that he hopes will
be clinched by the time he lands in the city.
A White House official said Obama will participate in a business summit where he will
hold roundtables with entrepreneurs and some US CEOs, and deliver a speech in which
he "will make clear the importance of removing barriers to US exports and US
participation in their market."
"With 1.2 billion people and an economy growing -- expected to grow at eight per cent a
year for the next several years, we really see India as a potentially very important
market for US exports," the official said. A key part of Obama's message will be that the
US wants to make sure there are opportunities for US jobs and US exports.
"That," the official added, "is a big part of his mission" in Mumbai.
By the White House's own admission, Obama's tour of Asia trip will have an economic
focus as he will travel to South Korea and Japan for the G-20 and APEC summits,
respectively.
Obama will carry that message to New Delhi, where he will hold delegation-level talks
with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and meet key Cabinet ministers.
Michelle Obama will accompany her husband on the India and Indonesia legs of his
Asian tour. The couple's daughters, Sasha and Malia, will not be travelling with them.
The Obamas will not make the by now customary visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra,
something the Sarkozys hope to do when they come visiting later this year.
Mrs Obama will be present at some official engagements in Mumbai and New Delhi but
she will get time to take part in a couple of independent events that will focus on
education and the empowerment of women and girls.
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