Thaindian News

By Gurmukh Singh
Toronto, June 22 (IANS) India and Canada are finally set to sign a civilian nuclear agreement during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit here for the G-20 summit at the weekend.

The deal, which was mooted during Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s visit to India in November, will be signed by Singh when he holds bilateral talks with Harper after the end of the summit June 27.

“Yes, we are set to sign quite a few agreements, including the nuke deal, when the two prime ministers meet after the G-20 summit. We are moving in the right direction and have now reached there (the nuclear deal),” a high-level Indian diplomatic source told IANS.

Though the Canadian government has made no announcement, a high-powered Canadian source also told IANS that “it (the nuke deal) is on the cards. After all, the Indian prime minister is here after a very long time and there should be some big accomplishments to show for his visit.”

The nuclear deal will mark a new chapter in India-Canada relations which suffered a setback after Canada imposed sanctions on India in the wake of the 1998 nuclear blasts.

To be signed on the lines of the India-US nuclear agreement, the deal is set to spell a bonanza for Canada’s struggling nuclear industry which has been feeling left out as India signed such deals with France, Russia and the US.

To triple their two-way trade from $5 billion, the two prime ministers and their delegations will also hold extensive talks on economic and trade cooperation.

“Though the proposed comprehensive economic partnership agreement may not be signed yet, the prime ministers will give it a further push as the two countries have already completed a joint study on it. The study will go before the two governments before the signing of the agreement,” said sources in the Indian high commission.

A social security agreement is also likely to be inked to exempt professionals two countries from making mandatory social security contributions.

The two sides will also sign MoUs on education, culture and energy.

In recognition of India’s rising global clout, Harper will also host a dinner in honour of Singh and his delegation, including Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon.

(Gurmukh Singh can be contacted at gurmukh.s@ians.in)