Washington, Nov.24 India and United States inked two significant inter-governmental agreements at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office signed a traditional knowledge digital library (TKDL) access agreement.

Dr.Samir Brahmachari, Director General of CSIR and Sharon Barner,Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, acting on behalf of Under Secretary for Intellectual Property in the US Department of Commerce Mr. David Kappos, signed the agreement.

The TKDL access agreement will enable the USPTO to search the extensive database of India's traditional knowledge painstakingly compiled under TKDL, a collaborative project between CSIR and Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

In addition, CSIR would provide training to the USPTO examiners and staff to help them use TKDL tools for search and examination. This would help prevent misappropriation of traditional knowledge through mistaken issuance of patents as had earlier happened with neem and haldi.

A Memoranda of Understanding was signed between the office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of India and the United States Patent and Trademark Office, US Department of Commerce.

The MoU would facilitate comprehensive bilateral cooperation on a range of IPR issues focusing on capacity building, human resource development and raising public awareness of the importance of IPR.

Another important Memorandum of Intent was signed to promote two-way investments between 'Invest in America' of the International Trade Administration, US Department of Commerce and 'Invest India', a joint venture of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and various State Governments of the Republic of India and FICCI concerning the promotion of investment in the US and India.

By facilitating exchange of information regarding opportunities for investment and about policies related to investment, this MoI seeks to accelerate the growing investment flows in both directions which are benefiting both countries. By Smita Prakash (ANI)