US nuclear trade mission to visit India in January

Washington, Dec 9 (PTI) The largest trade mission of
US commercial nuclear executives will visit India next month
to develop business alliances for meeting collective energy
security demands and enriching technology collaboration.

The United States India Business Council (USIBC) in
partnership with the Nuclear Energy Institute and the
Department of Commerce have scheduled the visit to India for
January.

"US companies are solidly committed to India - to the
heart and spirit and soul of the people as was so courageously
demonstrated in Mumbai just ten days ago. The time is ripe to
develop business alliances that will chart a dramatic course
for the future of both our countries in terms of meeting our
collective energy security demands, enriching technology
collaboration, and protecting the global environment"
President of the USIBC Ron Somers said in a statement.

Since rescheduling the mission on November 27, USIBC
and Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) have augmented the
delegation with additional leading US commercial nuclear
suppliers. In total, the delegation will include more than 50
senior executives representing more than 30 of the world's
leading commercial nuclear companies.

"Courageous action by India's Government, backed by
stalwart US support, culminated in conclusion of the historic
deal barely two months ago. US industry, including many of the
commercial nuclear suppliers on this mission, provided massive
political support for the deal in Washington.

Through the USIBC-led coalition for partnership with
India, US industry joined with Indian Americans and policy
experts to win final approval by the US Congress for ending
India's nuclear isolation" the top advocacy group has said.

"India's emergence from 34 years of nuclear isolation
is an exemplary achievement. But the resilience and bravery
and remarkable restraint demonstrated across the country after
the recent terrorist strikes in Mumbai are what make us so
proud to be associated with India. US companies look forward,
more than ever, to forming linkages with Indian counterparts
to share technologies that will benefit all humanity as we
strengthen our economic bonds for the 21st century" Somers
said.

"US industry is a reliable partner for India, and we
are proud to demonstrate again our solidarity," added USIBC
Director Ted Jones. "We are eager to explore, at this more
convenient time, how we can partner with India here and around
the world."

The US commercial nuclear industry leads the world in
size, performance, innovation, and engineering worldwide. The
US is the largest generator of electric power in the world -
with 27 per cent of the world's total installed capacity and
nearly double the number of reactors as France.

The US also produces at roughly half to one-third of
the cost in other major countries. In recent decades, US
reactor companies and civil nuclear engineering companies have
remained at the forefront of innovation and engineering
worldwide.

The US-India Business Council (USIBC), formed in 1975
under the aegis of the US Chamber of Commerce, is the premier
business advocacy organization representing 300 of the largest
US companies investing in India, joined by global Indian
companies, whose mandate is to deepen US-India commercial
ties.