External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said that the intensity and scale of India-US relationship has attained a new level in recent times. She lauded the role of persons of Indian origin in strengthening of India US ties. She was speaking during the opening plenary meeting of strategic and commercial dialogue between India and US at Washington.<br/><br/>John Kerry, Secretary of State, US, said that US India ties were stronger than ever. He called upon the two countries to work towards a model of economic development which was green and environment friendly. He appreciated India's role in evacuating US nationals stranded in Yemen. <br/><br/>Minister of state for commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman spoke about the growth in trade and investment ties between india and US. She said that the two countries are committed to raise it five times to 500 billion dollars in the coming few years. <br/><br/>Calling for a holistic approach to trade ties between the two countries, she also underlined India's concern about market access to agricultural products and pharmaceutical goods in US. She also said that there was a need to have a CEO forum for medium and small Enterprises operating in India as these are important components of India-US trade relations.<br/><br/>Minister of state for energy and coal Mr Piyush Goyal said that India has undertaken an ambitious goal of increasing its solar power generation capacity to 100 Gigantic watts by 2019. It provides great business opportunity to entrepreneurs in both the countries.<br/><br/>Later today India and US are also likely to issue a joint statement on countering terrorism which is being considered a very significant statement made by the two countries.