USIBC Homeland Security Executive Mission in Delhi

The first-ever Homeland Security Executive Mission from the United States-India Business Council (USIBC) is currently in Delhi to attend INDESEC Expo 2010 as part of a visit to the country.

The mission comes on the heels of nine aerospace and defense executive missions to India in recent times promoting deeper strategic collaboration between the U.S. and India.

The mission includes senior officials from defence, security, cyber security and information technology (IT) companies, including BAE Systems, Boeing, Connectiva, HBI, Honeywell, IBM, IEM, Implant Sciences, ITT Defense International, Microsoft, Northrop Grumman, Palantir, Pillsbury Winthrop, Raytheon, Steptoe & Johnson, United Technologies Fire & Security and The Cohen Group.

A USIBC press release said the delegation was being led by Admiral James Loy, Senior Counsellor at The Cohen Group and a former Deputy Secretary in the U.S Department of Homeland Security, which was created in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

He is joined by Lt. General Harry Raduege, Chairman of the Deloitte Center for Cyber Innovation and co-chairman of the Commission on Cyber security for the 44th Presidency. Both are eminent experts within the U.S national security apparatus.

"Just like the 9-11 terrorist attacks in America galvanized the U.S. private sector to develop cutting edge technologies in meeting the country's emerging threats, we believe the same response from Indian industry is occurring after 26/11," Admiral Loy said.

"Deeper U.S-India counterterrorism and homeland security cooperation must also focus on developing rapid and coordinated response and recovery capability to deal with future events," he said.

Admiral Loy had also served as the first administrator of the newly created Transportation Security Agency (TSA), which is responsible for protecting America's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce.

At the 3rd U.S-India Strategic Dialogue held in Washington, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heralded the unprecedented and expanding India-U.S. counterterrorism partnership, as embodied in the U.S.-India Counterterrorism Cooperation Initiative (CCI), to enhance collaboration, information sharing and capacity building.

"Washington and New Delhi share a common interest in defending against terrorist networks, preventing cyber attacks and protecting critical infrastructure. We look forward to our discussions this week with the Government of India and the private sector to discuss collaboration and best practices in homeland security. We are here to reaffirm our partnership to India," said Lt Gen Raduege.

Over a 35-year career, he directed the Pentagon's Defense Information Systems Agency and served as the Manager of the National Communication System during 9/11.

Among other things, he led efforts to restore communications to the Pentagon and prioritized the restoration of communications in New York City following the September 11 terrorist attacks; upgraded presidential communications; and led the successful expansion of the department's Global Information Grid through a $1 billion transformational communications programme.

The release said USIBC's delegation companies will demonstrate their latest technologies and products at INDESEC 2010. Nik Khanna, Director (Aerospace & Defense) at USIBC and Mission Coordinator, added that "U.S. industry's participation in and support of India's homeland security sector will not only provide India with the best equipment, but will also boost job creation in both countries through technology sharing, partnerships and high end manufacturing."

The USIBC, formed in 1975 at the request of the Government of India and the U.S. Government to advance commercial ties between the world's two largest free-market democracies, is hosted under the aegis of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

NNN