India, Canada to explore civil nuclear co-operation, increase bilateral trade

India and Canada will explore civil nuclear cooperation as the two discuss ways to step up bilateral trade and economic co-operation when visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper meets his India counterpart Manmohan Singh in New Delhi today.

Earlier, addressing a meeting in the capital, the Canadian prime minister said the two countries have broadly agreed upon pursuing civil nuclear cooperation and Canadian firms would soon be able to export uranium and nuclear reactors to India.

India and Canada are expected to take forward the 2010 India-Canada nuclear deal apart from finding ways to boost cooperation in key bilateral areas, an official spokesperson in the ministry of external affairs said.

The two sides expect the go forward with on implementation of the nuclear deal during Harper's visit.

Harper, however, did not give any details or a timeline for the two countries entering nuclear trade.

Harper, who is on a six-day state visit to India accompanied by three cabinet ministers and a large business delegation, also said Canada welcomed foreign investments.