India and the U.S. are “currently exchanging” the signed texts of the administrative arrangements finalised during US President Barack Obama’s visit to India in January for civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries, said External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin on Friday.
“After the necessary internal procedures, the signed texts are currently ‘being exchanged’ between the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) of India and the US Department of Energy,” Mr. Akbaruddin, said. Administrative arrangements pertain to the monitoring, handling, inspection and safeguard of the nuclear material procured from the U.S. In line with that, the government organised a workshop on the “Indian Nuclear Insurance Policy” attended by over 100 companies in the nuclear field doing business in India to understand the insurance pool and working under the Indian liability law. After this companies will be in a position to enter into commercial deals.
In addition the India-U.S. nuclear contact group met on Thursday and acknowledged that “all policy hurdles no longer exists” and they are now focussed to better commercial prospects of the deal.
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External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will undertake bilateral visit to Tanzania and South Africa from March 28-31. In South Africa apart from bilateral meetings, Ms. Swaraj will co-chair the joint commission between India and South Africa as well as a tripartite meeting between the Foreign Ministers of India, Brazil and South Africa under the “India, Brazil and South Africa dialogue forum,” he said.