India and France have signed a nuclear cooperation agreement worth 9.3 billion USD, besides the two countries’ negotiation of another seven agreements which aim to lift bilateral trade to 12 billion EUR (or 15.8 billion USD) by 2012.
The agreement, including the construction of two 1,650 MW nuclear power reactors in the Indian western state of Maharashtra, was signed after talks between visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Dec. 6.
The two sides discussed stepping up trade cooperation, bilateral investment and regional security, as well as the reform of the international monetary system through the G20.
President Sarkozy said France supports India to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and join the Group of Eight Industrialised Nations (G8) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
During the visit to India from Dec. 4-7, President Sarkozy was accompanied by ministers of foreign affairs, defence and finance, along with 70 leaders of French businesses./.
