The US said it was willing to offer greater concessions at the WTO but India must also play a leadership role for achieving an agreement for conclusion of Doha Round of negotiations.

"We are willing to make difficult choices, but we have a shared responsibility to make the round a success. Simply stated: India's leadership is required to achieve an agreement," US Commerce Secretary Carlos M Gutierrez said here at a FICCI function.

Gutierrez, who had one-to-one meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath earlier in the day, said India has a tremendous opportunity to play an active and positive role in pushing the trade talks forward.

The US administration is working with the new Congress to renew President George Bush's Trade Promotion Authority, which is set to expire at the end of June this year.

"Time is short, and a great deal remains to be done if we in the United States are to show progress in the Doha Round sufficient for Congress to renew the Trade Promotion Authority needed to conclude the negotiations," Gutierrez said.

He said many developing countries were waiting to see what stand India would take. "I am looking forward to working with Nath to ensure successful csion of the round," US Commerce Secretary said.

However, according to sources, India would continue to insist on the "development content" of the round rather than the time lines set by the US and others.

In another meeting with Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal, a dicision has been taken that India and the United States will set up a centre to share and study satellite images related to climate, a step towards enhancing cooperation in the area of science and technology.

The details about setting up the Indo-US Satellite Data Exchange Centre at the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) will be worked out within the next three months, an official release said.

IMD and the US top weather office National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been sharing meteorological data of mutual benefit and interest.

Sibal and Gutierrez agreed to take steps to facilitate R&D in pharma and bio-tech sectors and put in place a transparent regulatory regime for use if imported biological material.

Sibal also proposed creating a joint fund to promote industrial research with the US on the line of the Bilateral Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) fund the US has with Israel.

India has offered to contribute 100 million US dollars to the proposed fund where the US has to make a matching contribution. Gutierrez has agreed to seriously consider India's proposal for collaboration in the specific area of environmental technology. –PTI

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