India, France to sign nuclear agreement

NEW YORK: With the India-US nuclear deal on fast track, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday headed to France on a three-day visit that would bring India closer to Europe and seal a nuclear pact with Paris.

Manmohan singh will participate in the ninth India-EU summit in the coastal town of Marseilles Monday. French President Nicolas Sarkozy will host a lunch in honour of the Indian prime minister. Manmohan Singh would leave for Paris on Tuesday where he will hold talks with Sarkozy on a wide range of bilateral issues including civil nuclear cooperation, defence, space, and business.

With the India-US nuclear deal nearing congressional approval, India and France are expected to sign a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation pact that will restore nuclear business with France after a gap of more than three decades.

Manmohan Singh will also participate in the EU-India Business Forum organized by MEDEF, the French Association of Enterprises. Commerce and Industries Minister Kamal Nath and his delegation will later meet a number of French CEOs.