Obama Flies to India, Looking to Boost US Economy

November 5, 2010 - 2:11 PM

President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wave as they board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Friday, Nov. 5, 2010, for a 10-day trip through India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan, the longest foreign outing of Obama's presidency. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Mumbai, India (AP) - President Barack Obama hasn't been able to drive down unemployment in America, so he's coming to India in search of U.S. jobs.

Four days after his party suffered heavy, economy-influenced losses in Congress, the president will arrive Saturday in Mumbai, India's booming financial center, where he will meet with local business leaders and with American executives who have traveled to India in search of billions of dollars in trade deals.






U.S. and Indian officials have stressed the close ties that have developed between the world's two largest democracies over the past decade. It's a relationship both countries hope will expand and improve - partly, in the U.S. view, as a counterbalance to China's growing power.






On Thursday, a day before he left, Obama said in Washington, "The primary purpose is to take a bunch of U.S. companies and open up markets so that we can sell in Asia, in some of the fastest-growing markets in the world, and we can create jobs here in the United States." He added, "And my hope is, is that we've got some specific announcements that show the connection between what we're doing overseas and what happens here at home when it comes to job growth and economic growth."

The White House hopes some commercial deals will be finalized, possibly including purchases of Boeing aircraft by India. The U.S. also will be pushing for more favorable terms for U.S. exports.




Associated Press Writer Ravi Nessman contributed to this report from New Delhi, India.