The country s growing middle class, estimated at 250 million people, is considered the largest single market in the developing world. President Clinton s visit to India in March points to a shift in U.S. attention. India is now firmly on the map of world business, and the world s exporters are turning their attention and their sales pitch to the Indian subcontinent. The U.S. already enjoys good standing in the Indian market in 1998, U.S. products made up ten percent of India s total imports. India s leaders are increasingly realizing the benefits of globalization, and markets are opening as never before.
Ongoing privatization means increased opportunities for U.S. firms.
Joint ventures with Indian firms are an especially viable option for U.S. firms hoping to do business in India already, there are already more than 3000 Indo-U.S. business collaborations there. Environmental technology is one of the Indian market s brightest prospects. India s population has surpassed one billion, and the strain on natural resources is high. The Indian government is working to address these issues through general policy and individual projects. There is growing public awareness of health risks posed by pollution, and Indian industry is increasingly willing to comply with voluntary pollution restrictions.