Obama India visit: Indian jet deal may create 27,000 jobs in US

WASHINGTON: The Obama Administration is eyeing on the lucrative multi-billion dollar tender for medium multi-role combat aircraft of Indian Air Force as this has the potential to create a whooping 27,000 jobs in the US.

At a time, when unemployment rate continues to be at low ebb and US President Barack Obama is struggling to create fresh jobs; such a deal bagged by an American company could give him a big political boost.

Two major fighter jet manufacturing company - Boeing and Lockheed Martin - are vying for the $10 bn Indian tender; which is expected to raised by the US officials during the November India visit of the US President.

"If either jet wins, we estimate that it could bring 27,000 jobs to the US," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake told a Baltimore-based think tank, thus indicating the important US attaches in bagging such a deal.

"Equally important, it will help seal our strategic objective of working wing-to-wing with India to bolster global security and stability," Blake said.

India is the world's largest democracy, one of the world's fastest growing economies, and a rising power in Asia and beyond.

It has vibrant democratic institutions, a free press, a robust civil society, and an innovative private sector, he said.

"India's commitment to the values cherished by their people and espoused by their founders - democracy, pluralism, tolerance, openness, and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights - animate our continued efforts to build a more peaceful, prosperous, inclusive, secure, and sustainable world," he said.