Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has discussed with new Energy Secretary Rick Perry the possibility of importing LNG from the US and Indian investment in the energy sector there.<br/><br/>He met Mr Perry in the US Capitol and discussed energy cooperation between the two countries, Indian investment in Liquefied natural gas (LNG) and Shale sectors, and the possibility of the US exporting LNG to India from early next year. Mr Perry said, co-operation with India in the energy sector is in mutual interest as India's energy need is set to see a rapid increase as the economy expands.<br/><br/>The Union Minister earlier attended the influential CERAWeek energy conference and launched the new Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) at Houston, a city located near the Gulf of Mexico. On the sidelines of the conference, Mr Pradhan had bilateral meetings with counterparts from Russia, Sri Lanka, Canada and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih is expected to visit India soon.