India and the United States Launch New Phase of Cyber Security Cooperation

Washington, DC
November 10, 2004 

On November 9-10, the United States hosted the second meeting of the U.S.-India Cyber Security Forum, convening both government and industry representatives from each country to identify areas for collaboration in combating cyber-crime, cyber security research and development, information assurance and defense cooperation, standards and software assurance, and cyber incident management and response. 

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman, in prepared remarks, stated that the U.S.-India Cyber Security Forum “holds great promise for future cooperation.”  Indian Head of Delegation, National Security Council Secretariat Joint Secretary Arvind Gupta, delivering a statement to the Forum on behalf of J.N. Dixit, India’s National Security Advisor stating that “Securing cyberspace will remain one of the biggest challenges facing the international community for years to come and this Cyber Security Forum has emerged as an important bilateral mechanism to address such issues”.  

The first meeting of the U.S.-India Cyber Security Forum was held in New Delhi in April 2002 in recognition of the increasing interdependency between India and the United States in the information technology arena.  Cooperation between the United States and India is of growing importance as U.S. government and corporations utilize information technology companies in India at a rate of about $9 billion annually.  “As this trend increases, it is crucial that our governments and private industry work together to ensure an environment for secure transactions, networks, and software development,” said U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs Lincoln P. Bloomfield, Jr., the U.S. Head of Delegation. 

During the conference the United States and India reaffirmed their commitment to cooperation on securing cyberspace by establishing five joint working groups and identifying action plans for each.  Future efforts will include workshops in New Delhi and Washington and scientific exchanges.  Representatives of private industry similarly identified areas to strengthen cooperation.