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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Obama In India

Paresh Dave |
November 6, 2010 | 9:10 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

The Taj Mahal Hotel.
The Taj Mahal Hotel.
President Barack Obama arrived in India on Saturday, beginning a journey through four Asian nations that the U.S. is looking to strengthen economic ties with.

Some stats:

  • The visit to India is the sixth by a sitting U.S. president.
  • Two years since the terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai, making the president the biggest stars to stay there since.
  • The three day stay in India is Obama's longest stay in a foreign county as president.
  • The full trip across Asia last 10 days.
  • About 200 business executives are traveling with him, including those of General Electric, Pepsi-Co and Boeing.

What he's doing:

  • Remembering those terrorist attacks in Mumbai with an outdoor speech. His visit on one of India's biggest party weekend has angered some resident of Mumbai's version of West Hollywood.
    • "Ever since those horrific days two years ago, the Taj has been the symbol of the strength and resilience of the Indian people," he said. "So we use our visit here to send a very clear message that in our determination to give our people a future of security and prosperity, the United States and India stand united."
  • Visiting the Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum, where Mohandas Gandhi lived for 17 years.
  • Meeting with entrepreneurs.
  • Discussing business with about a dozen Indian and American business leaders.
  • Speaking at business summit featuring leaders from both the U.S. and India

Policy actions he's proposing:

  • Remove restrictions making it hard for American companies to send high-tech goods, such as those needed to made nuclear weapons, to India.
  • He already helped ram through proposals to build Harley-Davidson and Boeing plants in India during the coming months.
  • Continue to foster deals such as the 20 already completed or in the works that will create 54,000 jobs in the U.S.

Obama also delievered his weekly radio address Saturday, focusing on the need to extend the Bush tax cuts for the middle class while letting them expire for the rich. One of the Tea Party's three new senators, Marco Rubio of Florida, offered the Republican response.



 

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