Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

U.S., India to sign civil nuclear deal on Friday

Wed Oct 8, 2008 3:49am IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and India plan to sign a potentially lucrative agreement on Friday to open up nuclear trade between the two countries for the first time in three decades, sources familiar with the matter said.

The sources, who asked not to be named, said the agreement was due to be signed by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Washington.

The pact will provide India with access to U.S. nuclear fuel, reactors and technology, overturning a ban on such trade instituted in 1974 when India first conducted a nuclear test.

President George W. Bush will sign into law U.S. legislation that underpins the agreement on Wednesday, a week after the bill was ratified by Congress.

The India-U.S. deal could open up around $27 billion in investment in 18 to 20 nuclear plants in India over the next 15 years, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin poses with his G20 colleagues and central bank leaders during the family photo at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland. REUTERS/POOL New
Pledge to support economies

G20 financial leaders pledged to prepare strategies to end emergency support for their economies, but to keep the aid flowing until recovery was assured.  Full Article | Related Story 

Photo
Photo
Miss England gives up crown over brawl reports Friday, 6 Nov 2009 

LONDON (Reuters) - Beauty pageant winner Miss England gave up her title on Friday after reports she had been involved in a nightclub brawl with another beauty queen.  Full Article