Washington, April 24 (IANS): A business mission from the Washington metropolitan area is headed to India to showcase itself as a gateway for Indian companies' investments in the US

The mission will also highlight export and partnership opportunities in India for companies in Montgomery County in Maryland, just north of the capital where many large US firms and US federal government agencies are based.

Led by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, the business mission to India from Nov 13 to 22 will visit New Delhi and Bangalore, with opportunities for delegates to also visit Hyderabad and Raipur, according to a news release from the India-US World Affairs Institute.

The Washington based non-profit institute focused on promoting India US interests in global business and world affairs, has been selected by the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development to help facilitate business-to-business interactions (B2B) with companies in India.

It will also offer an array of B2B and logistics support services for companies accompanying the County Executive's India business mission.

The mission will offer participating companies the opportunity to experience first-hand the substantial opportunities that exist in one of the largest, fast-growing nations in the world.

Confirmed participants in County Executive's mission will also be invited to attend a seminar on "Doing Business in India" prior to leaving for India and have access to a good deal of information on India and doing business in India.

Supported by Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development and the US Commercial Service, the mission will also provide the delegates an opportunity of attending a major Technology Summit & Technology Platform being held during their visit to New Delhi.

This is the 20th annual technology summit being organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Department of Science & Technology.

The US is the partner country for the very first time this year.

Highlighting the importance of the growing strategic partnership between the US and India, Raj Davé, chairman of the India-US World Affairs Institute, said, "America's and India's fortunes in the 21st century seem irrevocably tied together."

"It is in the interests of both nations to continue working together in business, economic, defence, homeland security, foreign affairs, and other spheres," he said.

"It's a role not just for governments, but for all of us in business, academia, and civil society to help facilitate and strengthen the strategic partnership," Davé said.

Bilateral trade between the United States and India has quadrupled to over $100 billion since 2006.