19 Jan (NucNet): Experts from the UK�s civil nuclear industry have arrived in India with a senior member of the British government to discuss potential collaboration between the two countries.

The UK�s secretary of state (chief minister) for business, enterprise and regulatory reform, Lord Mandelson, told the opening session of a conference of the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi earlier today: �I am keen to encourage UK manufacturing companies to look for joint ventures and opportunities in India's growing industrial sector and higher up the value chain.

�I have also brought with me to India a team of the UK�s best civil nuclear technology experts and over the next couple of days we will be working with Indian counterparts to identify opportunities for further collaboration,� he added.

Lord Mandelson said he wanted to give UK companies �a chance to benefit from exposure to India's embrace of the low carbon agenda�.

In September 2008, the Nuclear Suppliers Group agreed to adjust its guidelines to allow full civil nuclear cooperation between India and the international community.

India�s prime minister Manmohan Singh said in October 2008 that he expected to agree on nuclear cooperation with other EU member countries after signing a bilateral agreement on civil nuclear commerce with France.

� by John Shepherd

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