(The) board would protect consumers' interests and would seek to boost investments and create competitive markets.

Sustained high international oil prices have compelled several import dependent countries such as ours to look for other indigenous means to enhance their hydrocarbon security. Our strategies include besides enhancing our domestic efforts for exploration of conventional oil and gas and improving recovery from existing producing fields, the rapid development of non-conventional sources of hydrocarbons such as CBM.

I would be keen to meet with CEOs and other top executives of U.S.-based petroleum companies during this visit. I have separately requested the USIBC (U.S.-India Business Council) to organize an event, wherein this interaction could take place.

It's been a massive response.

We have invited a number of global energy players to explore oil in our country and share production with us.