Canada 'very close' to signing nuclear agreement with India

TORONTO: Taking forward the bilateral ties, Canada will soon sign a deal with India to sell nuclear technology and uranium for civilian use, paving the way for opening up of the lucrative Indian market to this country's atomic exports for the first time in more than three decades.

"We're very close to having an agreement with India related to the civilian use of nuclear energy for the purpose of helping them meet their energy needs," Canadian International Trade Minister Stockwell Day said yesterday at 32nd gala dinner organised by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC).

"I don't like to put an hour and a day on it, but these are fairly complicated agreements and we're just about there," he said. "There's just a few items left."`

Earlier, Shashishekhar M Gavai, India's High Commissioner to Canada, had said that officials of both sides had already exchanged the draft agreement and deal would be signed soon.

"An expert Canadian team was in Mumbai last month to work out, with the Atomic Energy Commission of India, final technical details and conditions under which business can be done," he said.

The pact, which sources said could be signed within three months, will open up the vast Indian market to Canadian nuclear exports for the first time in more than 30 years.