NEW DELHI: Eyeing to expand presence in India's urban development sector US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews will lead a delegation of 18 top American companies on a Smart Cities Infrastructure Business Development Mission across three cities next month.Director of the US Trade and Development Agency Lee Zak and Vice President of Global Business Development at the Export-Import Bank Ray Ellis will also be part of the mission from Feb 8-12.India will seek further cooperation with the US in developing smart cities with the two nations agreeing to form a join working group for developing Allahabad, Ajmer and Vishakhapatnam as smart cities, government sources here said.The trade mission that will visit Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai will help US companies launch or increase their business in India, focusing on technologies, systems and services in the safety and security, intelligent transportation, water, wastewater, and power sectors, sources informed.This engagement will drive and enhance the sustainable growth of India’s infrastructure sector, while making India’s growing urban centers more attractive to business and providing a better quality of life for India’s citizens, according to US government officials.“By joining the global consensus agreed to in Paris last month, India made clear that it will be an important part of the world’s solution to a truly global problem,” said Andrews in a statement issued in Washington on Thursday."US industry stands ready and able to help India make its cities more sustainable – an effort that will greatly benefit India’s economic growth and our world’s ability to address a changing climate,” hoped the senior American official.The companies that will join Andrews on this trade mission are Alcoa Inc. – New York, Aquatech International – Canonsburg, Black & Veatch Pvt. Ltd. – Overland Park, Convalt, Danaher Holding (DHR), Ecolab/NALCO, EI Technologies, LLC, MasterCard, Milbank Manufacturing, Opower, Inc, Owenscorning India Private Limited, Qualcomm, S2 Global-OSI Solutions, Silver Spring Networks, Smart Cities Council, Turner Project Management India Pvt. Ltd and Xylem Inc.As the world’s third largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity, India has the second largest population and is projected to add 500 million people to its urban population over the next four decades.The Modi government has made infrastructure development a priority, along with a plan to develop 100 smart cities – developed urban areas that would create sustainable economic development and high quality of life through efficient and innovative energy, transportation, digital, social platforms.