The US India Business Council (USIBC) has welcomed signing of the India-specific Safeguards Agreement with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying this will pave the way for India's global engagement in commercial nuclear trade.
"Inking the safeguards agreement continues India's rapid momentum toward global engagement in commercial nuclear trade," USIBC president Ron Somers said in a statement yesterday.
USIBC, the statement said, considers Safeguards Agreement as a crucial step to facilitate the swift consummation of the US-India nuclear deal. Such forward-leaning action by India's Government has made for a remarkable year in the US-India relationship.
The signing of the Safeguards Agreement comes on the heels of the largest trade mission of US commercial nuclear executives ever to visit India.
About 60 senior executives from 30 world class companies participated in this USIBC nuclear business mission, supported by Confederation of Indian Industries.
With this new beginning, Somers said, "US nuclear companies look forward to partnering with India's public and private sector companies to achieve India's domestic energy security imperative, as well as to develop safe nuclear power around the world."