The move is a reaffirmation of India's impeccable record as a non-proliferator

NEW DELHI, 31 July 2018: FICCI welcomes the award of the Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) status to India by the United States, the first South Asian country to have been conferred this. This allows the US to ease export control requirements on the sale of certain high technology items and technologies in sensitive areas like chemical and biological weapons, nuclear, defence and special materials.

Mr. Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, FICCI hailed the news as a landmark development towards further cementing the India-US strategic ties. "India's status as an STA-1 country will allow for greater opportunity for the two countries to engage in co-development and co-production in these sensitive areas," said Mr. Chenoy.

He added, "At the global level, this will also strengthen the case for India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)."

As a result of this development, India now has access to the same level of technology that the US offers to its NATO allies, Japan, South Korea and Australia.

"The move is a testament to India's adherence to rule-based multilateral export regime and also a recognition of India's growing importance to the US as a key economic and strategic partner," said Mr. Chenoy.