With a view to enhancing commercial and strategic relationship between India and the United States, the High Technology Cooperation Group will meet in Washington next week.

"Next week's meeting of HTCG is an opportunity to capitalise on the momentum of the emerging US-India Strategic Partnership," US Commerce Secretary Carlos M Gutierrez said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Indian delegation comprising government, industry and science and technology representatives, would be led by Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon.

Gutierrez said HTCG, a unique partnership between the government and the industry, has helped deliver significant results for technology transfer. "Today, less than one per cent of the US high-technology exports to India require an export licence," Gutrierrez said addressing a FICCI meeting.

He said the US civil nuclear companies were eager to partner with the Indian firms once all the necessary steps towards civil nuclear cooperation were completed.

"There will be abundant opportunities for Indian and US businesses together to develop the Indian nuclear power sector and partner in other markets," he said. Clean energy was an area, in which the two countries can partner for commercial and environmental success.

Complimenting the "stunning" growth of the Indian economy, the US Commerce Secretary listed sectors like retail, banking, financial services and telecommunication where obstacles remain.

"For India to continue its phenomenal growth it must open all areas of its economy and encourage investment -- both foreign and internal," he said adding protectionism was neither good for India nor America.