The India-US Expanded Financial and Economic Partnership was launched to further cement the economic bond between the two countries. The partnership which was jointly launched by the Finance Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee and the visiting American Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in New Delhi yesterday laid the foundation for greater cooperation between the two democracies and future economic growth. The partnership will focus on three broad areas of macro-economic policy, financial sector reforms and infrastructure- related issues. Describing the launch as a milestone, the Finance Minister said that it will add another dimension to the Indo US relations. Addressing a press conference after the launch of the partnership, Mr. Mukherjee said that there is a huge potential 600 billion dollars worth of US investment for infrastructure development in India in the construction of roads, ports and communications.<br/>The US Treasury Secretary said the partnership will facilitate more trade, investment and creation of jobs in the two countries. He said the deepening of ties between India and the Unites States is critical to the broader global effort to develop a framework for a strong, sustainable and balanced growth.<br/><br/>A joint statement on the launch of the partnership said that the ability and commitment of India and the United States to cooperate in financial and economic areas is not only important for the economic success of both the countries but the whole world will help in achieving shared goals in this century. Earlier, Mr. Geithner met the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. ‘