Indo-US science forum to be launched on Thursday

Indo-US science forum to be launched on Thursday
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, July 18: The Indo-US Science and Technology forum that was set up during President Bill Clinton's recent visit to India will be formally launched on Thursday by Union Science Minister Murli Manohar Joshi.

US Ambassador in India Richard Celeste will hand over a cheque of Rs 32 crore on behalf of his country and Department of Science and Technology Secretary V S Ramamurthy will present a cheque of Rs 50 lakh on behalf of India to the forum for the creation of an endowment fund, an official release said.

After the formal launch, the forum will work out modalities of and programmes for cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides would also prepare an extensive reference source data base to facilitate cooperation.

Following the announcement of setting up of the forum in New Delhi during Clinton's visit in March this year, top Indian and US scientists had taken part in a one-day round-table conference in Hyderabad.