Japan offers nuke technology to India

Taking Indo-Japan economic ties to newer heights, Japan on Monday offered its nuclear technology to India to enable the economy to meet its energy needs. Japan's offer to share its nuclear technology with India was made by the visiting Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama during his interactions with the captains of industry. At a meeting with the leading figures of Indian industry here the Japanese premier said his country was keen on offering nuclear technology to India.

"During the meeting, the visiting dignitary indicated that the Japanese are interested in providing nuclear technology to India," Harsh Pati Singhania, president of the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry told newspersons here. However, the Japanese side also indicated that they would like to resolve all the pending issues related to the use of nuclear technology. "The Japanese firms are interested in providing nuclear technology to India. But their government wants all the pending issues to be sorted out," he said. "Hatoyama said that Japan is the only country where atomic attacks had taken place. So the Japanese are sensitive to nuclear issues," Singhania said.

India inks Uranium deal with Mongolia

India and Mongolia signed a crucial civil nuclear agreement for supply of Uranium to New Delhi. It was signed following summit level talks between the visiting Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. India also extended a 25 million US dollar stabilisation fund to mitigate the global financial crisis affecting Ulanbattar. Another agreements signed included cooperation in the fields of health, cultural exchange and statistical affairs. In a joint media interaction following the signing of agreements, Dr. Manmohan Singh said both the leaders have agreed on deeper cooperation in the field of mining and agriculture.

Dr. Singh said they have already agreed on bilateral investment protection and ways to avoid double taxation. The visiting dignitary President Elbegdorj said that Mangolia is grateful to India for providing stabilisation funds for the recovery of its staggering economy. AIR correspondent understands, Mongolia’s huge uranium reserves could boost and energize the country’s starving civil nuclear fuel cycle. Mongolia is the sixth nation with which India has signed the civil nuclear agreement after getting a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in September last year.

Similar agreements have already been inked with America, Russia, France, Kazakhstan and Namibia. Mongolia's decision to supply uranium to India assumes greater significance in the wake of Australia’s reluctance to do so. Under the Agreement, the two sides will trade uranium and exchange expertise in designing of atomic plants and train personnel. Mongolia recently signed an inter-governmental agreement with Russia to establish a joint venture to develop, produce and process Uranium. It has also signed uranium-linked cooperation with China.