US Chamber urges Senate to pass Atomic bill

Washington, Sep 20: The United States Chamber of Commerce has urged the Senate to support the US-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation bill that would cement a long-term strategic partnership between the two countries.

''By ending India's isolation in civilian nuclear power, the measure, will lay the foundation for major trade and investment opportunities for US companies,'' Chamber Executive Vice President for Government Affairs Bruce Josten wrote in a letter to the Senate last night.

According to the Chamber, India's energy requirements through 2012 will involve investments of more than 170 billion dollars, providing American businesses an enormous opportunity to provide equipment, services, and technology.

It says India's nuclear power requirements are projected to generate some 27,000 high-quality jobs each year for the next ten years in the US nuclear industry alone.

The bill has already been passed with certain modifications by the House of Representatives of the US Congress and the Senate is expected to take it up soon.

The Chamber hopes that differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill would be resolved in a way that will promote US non-proliferation objectives while reinforcing US-India strategic relations.

UNI