Race for India's N-business hots up; UK, Canada teams coming

The race among countries for getting nuclear business in India is hotting up with delegations rushing here to discuss opportunities in this field.

While France has already walked away with a contract in the multi-billion dollar industry, high-level delegations from Britain and Canada will be here this week to interact with Indian side to explore possibilities for cooperation in the
nuclear field.

The visits by the British and Canadian delegations come close on the heels of a similar trip by a team of the US nuclear industry here over a week back for a similar purpose.

The flurry of visits come more than three months after the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) granted waiver to India, ending its 34-year isolation and allowing it to have civil nuclear trade with the world.

A 20-member delegation, headed by British secretary of State for Business and Enterprise Lord Peter Mandelson, will be here from Monday.

Mandelson and the delegation will also visit Mumbai and Pune.

The business delegation accompanying Mandelson will have executives from civil nuclear companies such as AMEC and Rolls Royce.

In Delhi, Mandelson will meet commerce minister Kamal Nath and some other ministers. He will also address the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit and attend a seminar with the accompanying UK nuclear delegation.