Modi's new India vision to help US job creation

New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "vision for a new India" will also help create jobs in the US, President Donald Trump's Press Secretary Sean Spicer said while announcing Modi's White House visit scheduled for June 26.

Addressing the common interests of the two countries in an environment where Trump's promotion of a policy of "Buy American, hire American" is stoking apprehensions in India, Spicer on Monday said: "US energy and technologies, including natural gas, are helping to build Prime Minister Modi's vision for a new India and creating thousands of American jobs in the process."

"US-India trade has grown six-fold since 2000, from $19 billion to $115 billion in 2016.""And the Indian economy is growing at over 7%," he said adding a note of optimism for the future.

The White House's spin on job creation by India in the US is in contrast to Trump's comments about jobs fleeing to China and elsewhere.

In April, Trump ordered a review of trade with countries with which US runs a deficit. India is on that list, although with deficit of $24 billion in pales in comparison with China's $347 billion.

The job creation comment also skirts the issues of Trump's plans to curb outsourcing and to cut back on visas for professionals that New Delhi fears will turn off the spigot for Indian technical talent and businesses heading to the US.

Spicer said that during the visit the two leaders "will look to outline a common vision for the US-India partnership that is worthy of their 1.6 billion citizens."

A reason why Mar-a-Lago may be out is that it is hot in summer in Florida and lately Trump has been going to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on weekends.

Trump is under heightened political pressure because of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and contacts by member of his inner circle with Kremlin-connected figures. A special prosecutor is looking into the allegations and a Senate committee has been holding hearings.