Ahead of his India visit with a high-powered trade mission, US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke met Indian Ambassador to US Meera Shankar during which he advocated for US fighter aircraft manufacturers and increasing American exports to India. The Commerce Department said after the meeting in Washington that the US government views high technology defence sales as a cornerstone of the US-India strategic partnership. It also added that the United States is a willing and capable defense partner. Both the leaders discussed bilateral trade and investment issues. The meeting took place as Locke prepares to lead a high technology business development trade mission to India early next month. Over 70 companies applied to participate in the upcoming mission, which will make stops in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, in order to promote US exports of high technology products and services in key economic sectors such as civil-nuclear trade, defense and security, civil aviation, information and communications technology. The statement said, US exports of goods to India are up 15.2 per cent through the first 10 months of 2010 and projected to surpass 19 billion dollars for the entire year, an all-time high. Advanced technologies, including aerospace, specialized materials, information and communications technologies, electronics and flexible manufacturing systems underpinned this growth.