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SINGAPORE: American companies have expressed strong interests in increasing businesses in India, especially supporting the "commercial diplomacy" of President Barack Obama, who visited New Delhi last November, the US ambassador to Singapore, David Adelman, said on Tuesday.

"I think the American businesses has weighed the challenges and opportunities and has come out on the side having more activities in India," said Adelman in an interview.

He highlighted the strong economic growth and emerging business opportunities in India, and pointed out the American businesses' strong preferences to further build trade and investment relations with the Indians.

American technology companies would also want to increase their investment and presence in India, according to Adelman, who noted that India's formidable technology sector has strong interest in intellectual property rights.

"Every country has challenges and opportunities, and American businesses have made the decision that they want to be in India," he said.

The Ambassador gave his assessment of India-US business relationships ahead of a high-power trade delegation visit to New Delhi and Mumbai next month.

He said the decision on the week-long business trip, scheduled from March 14, 2011, came from Singapore-based American corporations, and would be part of the ongoing US trade delegation visits taking place between New Delhi and Washington.

He said Singapore was the apt place to organise the business mission, given that the top decision makers of US corporations were based in Singapore and the region.

He expects to lead 24 corporate heads on the India visit. Singapore is home to more than 2,000 US companies, some of which are operating regional headquarters.

The US Embassy along with the Indian High Commission and the American Chamber of Commerce in Singapore are holding a seminar on February 10 on business prospects, policies and technologies.

A similar visit to Delhi was organised in 2007 by the Embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce.

But a diplomatic source said this week's business seminar and the March trade delegation was a "bigger step" for Corporate America, seeking out new opportunities in Asia including Indonesian and Vietnam, having built a presence in China over the past three decades.