'Indo-Canada N-deal to expand economic activity'

The Canada-India civilian nuclear agreement signed in June, 'allows for a range of possible economic activity,' Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in response to India Abroad's question regarding the larger ramifications of the deal.

The economic activity, he said, would be 'in support of the development of India's civilian nuclear energy capacity, which we anticipate will be rising enormously in the years to come.'

"It's no secret that the government of Canada wants the Canadian industry to look at those opportunities and participate," he added.

"(But) we haven't (and)… we are not making any kind of condition that there be agreements with Canadian companies. We expect Canadian companies to compete. This merely opens doors to what will be an important and growing industry," Harper said.

Industry reports in Canada and India, say it could lead to a minimum of $25 billion additional trade between the two countries. Canada has the uranium that India needs.

While Australia also has the uranium, the country is vacillating on signing the civilian nuclear deal, so India has to largely rely on Canada. 

The civilian nuclear agreement, 'allows for broad cooperation and interaction on civilian nuclear energy, and contains a range of safeguards to ensure our country that that will be purpose of the activity,' Harper added.