Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Smith in city to explore investments possibilities

HYDERABAD: Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith here on Wednesday reiterated that Australia would not export uranium to India and, for that matter, to any country which did not sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Speaking to the media after calling on Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, along with a retinue of aides in the Secretariat, Mr. Stephen Smith said Australia respected India’s decision not to the sign the NPT and India, by way of reciprocation, should understand the Australia’s resolve not supply uranium to non-NPT nations.

Mr. Smith, on a week’s visit to India, was here to explore investment possibilities in Andhra Pradesh for Australian firms. Before calling on the Chief Minister, he visited Satyam Computer facility and the International Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics, accompanied by Australian High Commissioner to India John MacCarthy.

Mr. Smith said he saw “great potential” in Hyderabad and elsewhere in the State for Australian companiesand called his meeting with the Chief Minister and captains of Industry at CII meeting, as “very productive”.

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