Washington, Mar 8 (IANS): Cautioning against "voices of protectionism", India has suggested creation of a framework to help increase the mobility of high skilled workers between India and the US to unleash the full potential of US-India innovation.

"With a strong foundation in place, the two nations are uniquely positioned to pool their talent to address what President Obama's innovation strategy called the Grand Challenges of the 21st Century," said Indian ambassador Nirupama Rao.

"In this context, it would be beneficial if we could work also on a framework that would help increase the mobility of high skilled workers across the two countries," she said in an address at the Emory University, Atlanta, on India-US Strategic Relations last week.

Noting that "In these difficult economic times, sometimes we do hear the voices of protectionism," Rao said: "We all have stakes in ensuring that such sentiments do not affect the positive trajectory of our engagement keeping the long-term perspective in mind."

"What we need to promote is a dynamic network of partnerships and underpin them through bilateral investments as well as through technology cooperation," she said.

The two governments are engaged intensively to increase collaboration and nleash the full potential of US-India innovation, Rao said pointing to education and health as critical areas with "exciting opportunities for collaboration."

India's supply base offers leverages in product design and development for not just the Indian market but for the world market, she said.

Describing India and the US as natural allies, Rao said the relationship between the two countries is in a state of constant evolution in a rapidly changing world.

"We will move forward and deepen our strategic partnership guided by our long-term objectives and shared ideals of democratic functioning to meet the important challenges of our times," she said.