India, Canada to complete ratification of n-deal soon

India and Canada are close to completing the ratification process of their civil nuclear agreement, paving the way for transfer of technology, sale of atomic reactors as well as uranium.

Both the countries had signed the agreement last year which will provide access to Canadian nuclear industry to India's expanding nuclear market besides sale of uranium.

"Both the governments are close to finishing the ratification process... The announcement will be made soon," Deputy High Commissioner of Canada Jim Nickel said here, replying to a question on when both the countries will operationalise the pact.

Nickel said Canada was hopeful of starting the process of delivering on what the treaty offers in the form of nuclear technology, services, equipment and sell of uranium. Canada has a large reserve of uranium.

Noting that Canada was looking forward to do nuclear business with India, he said there was scope for cooperation in the fields of nuclear medicines and research.

Besides Canada, India has signed civil nuclear pacts with the US, France, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Argentina and Namibia after the Nuclear Suppliers Group lifted a 34-year-old ban on India to join global nuclear trade in September 2008.

Nickel said both the countries are also negotiating an Audio Visual co-production treaty under which film makers and media industry will get tax concession and other incentives in each other's country.