UK to let firms into Indian civil nuclear market

Britain will start granting licences to its civil nuclear firms to export to India, British government sources said on Wednesday.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, on a visit to India with a large British delegation, told reporters that cooperation in the civil nuclear industry was one area where he expected the two nations to make a lot of progress.

Government sources later explained that this was a reference to a change in policy on export licences for firms like Rolls Royce and Serco.

The move is aimed at boosting business and sending a positive signal to India on trade links.

Previously, British policy was not to let firms get involved in India's civil nuclear market because it is a nuclear-armed state that is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and that does not separate its military from its civilian nuclear industries.

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