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A nuclear trade deal between India and the United Kingdom has been finalized and awaits approval by leaders in the two nations, Agence France-Presse reported yesterday (see GSN, Feb. 4).
"The two sides have discussed and negotiated a civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement and we hope that will be signed soon," Indian Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said in London.
"This is a very, very significant advance, and I look forward to that text being signed off at a ministerial, political level before long," added British Business Secretary Peter Mandelson.
The deal would offer "major trade opportunities" for British nuclear companies, officials said. Specifics were not immediately available.
The United Kingdom is one of a number of states that have sought civilian nuclear deals with India since it was freed from international restrictions on trade in atomic materials and equipment. New Delhi has been allowed access to the market even though it possesses nuclear weapons and has not joined the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, Feb. 4).