New Delhi: The Indo-French agreement on the
development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy enters into
force today, giving a new impetus to the bilateral partnership
envisaging multiform civil nuclear cooperation and paving way
for companies to build atomic power plants in India.
The pact came into force after Foreign Secretary Nirupama
Rao and French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont exchanged the
instruments of ratification of the agreement between the two
governments signed in Paris on September 30, 2008.
"In accordance with the provisions of the Agreement, it
enters into force on the same day," a statement from the
Ministry of External Affairs said here.
Parliament of France, which was the first country to sign
a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with India within days
of lifting of the international nuclear trade embargo on it in
2008, ratified the agreement in November last year.
"As responsible States with advanced nuclear
technologies, France and India intend to develop a multiform
civil nuclear cooperation covering a wide range of activities
including nuclear power projects, R&D, nuclear safety,
education and training," the statement said.
PTI