Isro, Godrej, BEL off Japan’s blacklist

NEW DELHI: Tokyo has lifted restrictions on 11 Indian entities, including ISRO, DRDO and Godrej, for trading in dual use items. The development would open up high-tech trade between India and Japan.

The Japanese end-user list, which reflects the country’s apprehensions on WMD proliferation, includes names of all entities barred from participating in high-tech trade with Japan.

The removal of 11 of the 26 Indian entities from the list is seen as a significant development. The presence of well-known Indian companies on the list is an issue that India has continued to take up with Japan at every level, sources said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had raised the matter with his Japanese counterpart Yukio Hatoyama at their last summit level meeting.

The matter also figured prominently in discussions in the high-tech trade working group over the last three years. India has continued to assure Japan that Indian entities barred under the list would not use high-tech items or dual-use items procured from Japan for a missile programme or pass the technology on to a third party.

The Japanese decision took place only after a number of visits from an inspection group from Japan with the last inspection taking place in April this year. Following the inspection, the 11 companies were removed from the end user list by the Japanese Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry (METI).

The entities are Bharat Electronics Limited, Centre for Advanced Technology, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing, ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network, National Aerospace Laboratories, Nuclear Fuel Complex, Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers and Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory.

However, Japan has retained restrictions on certain wings of DRDO, including the Aeronautical Development Establishment and the Solid State Physics Laboratory and also included United Phosphorous and DAE Thal Heavy Water Board facility on the list.

New Delhi, however, is satisfied with the removal of the 11 entities which can source the required dual-use items and be free of the stigma attached to being on the list. It is also seen as Tokyo following up on its vow to look into the matter. At the last summit between India and Japan, the prime ministers had decided to step up efforts to facilitate high-tech trade and deal with export controls.

The move is expected to increase trade between India and Japan, and comes in the backdrop of Tokyo taking a small step towards potential civilian nuclear cooperation between the two countries by setting up a working group on civilian nuclear energy.