The US today removed nine Indian space and defense related companies including those from Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, and Defense Research and Development Organization, DRDO from its export control Entity List. The move will help US to expand high technology trade and strategic cooperation with India.The US decision meets a long pending Indian demand and is the first step to implement the export control policy initiative announced by US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November last year after their summit talks in New Delhi.The Federal notification issued in the Federal registry came days ahead of the high-profile visit of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to New Delhi on February 6. Locke is leading a high-tech trade mission comprising 24 businesses that will also visit Bangalore and Mumbai.The US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said in Washington after the issue of a federal notification that today's action marks a significant milestone in reinforcing the US-India strategic partnership. He said the move will also help in moving forward with export control reforms that will facilitate high technology trade and cooperation between the two countries. The nine entities are Bharat Dynamics Ltd, four remaining subsidiaries of the DRDO in the US sanction list and another four of the ISRO. The DRDO subsidiares are Armament Research and Development Establishment, Defense Research and Development Lab, Missile Research and Development Complex and Solid State Physics Laboratory. Liquid Propulsion Systems Center, Solid Propellant Space Booster Plant, Sriharikota Space Center and Vikram Sarabhai Space Center are the four ISRO subsidiaries. The Commerce Department said in a statement that the removal from the Entity List eliminates a license requirement specific to the companies. It further adds India to a country group in the Export Administration Regulations that consists of members of the Missile Technology Control Regime, to recognize and communicate India's adherence to the regime, the US-India strategic partnership, and India's global non-proliferation standing.