*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - July 16, 2009: India may make two announcements next week paving the way for more than $20 billion in contracts for U.S. companies building nuclear-power plants and selling defense technology, said Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hopes to unveil the agreements that would help American firms sell sophisticated arms and nuclear power plants to India when she visits next week.
One would be an "end-use monitoring" agreement under which the United States would have the right to make sure American arms sold to India are used for their intended purpose and that the technology does not leak to third countries. Under U.S. law, such a pact is necessary for U.S. firms to bid on India's plan to buy 126 multirole fighters, one of the largest arms deals in the world and a potential boon to Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co.
"We hope to be able to sign that," Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said, previewing Clinton's trip to India. She arrives in Mumbai on Friday for a two-night visit and then goes to New Delhi for Monday talks.
The visit is Clinton's first to India as secretary of state. Congress last year gave final approval to a pact opening the Indian market to U.S. nuclear power companies.
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