News Delhi: The Obama Administration lifted bans from Indian entities as many as nine space and defense related companies including Indian Space Research Organization and Defense Research and Development Organization, news agencies reported on Tuesday.
“Today’s action marks a significant milestone in reinforcing the US-India strategic partnership and moving forward with export control reforms that will facilitate high technology trade and cooperation,” commerce secretary Gary Locke said after a federal notification was issued in the federal registry.
The entities being removed from the ban-list are: Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), the four remaining subordinates of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO): Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Defense Research and Development Lab (DRDL), Missile Research and Development Complex; Solid State Physics Laboratory; and the four remaining subordinates of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO): Liquid Propulsion Systems Center, Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant (SPROB), Sriharikota Space Center (SHAR), and Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC).
Removal from the entity List eliminates a license requirement specific to the companies, and results in the removed companies being treated the same way as any other destination in India for export licensing purposes, the Commerce Department said in a statement.
The notification removes India from several country groups in the Export Administration Regulations resulting in the removal of export license requirements that were tied to India’s placement in those country groups.
It further adds India to a country group in the EAR that consists of members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, to recognize and communicate India’s adherence to the regime, the US-India strategic partnership, and India’s global non-proliferation standing.
“These changes reaffirm the US commitment to work with India on our mutual goal of strengthening the global non-proliferation framework,” said Under Secretary of Commerce Eric L Hirschhorn.
Obama during his India visit had assured India that he would remove these companies from the entities list.
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