India received backing from Switzerland to become a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group. After holding comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann announced that Switzerland will support India in its efforts to become a member of NSG. Johann Schneider-Ammann also agreed to expand his country’s cooperation about the issue of Indians stashing black money in Swiss banks.
Tax evasion and black money were two of the key focus areas in talks between the two leaders. Besides that, they have also discussed stepping up ties in areas of investment, trade and vocational training.
India has been blocked out for decennaries from the NSG because it refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and was developing its own nuclear technology. A civil nuclear agreement was signed in 2008 with the United States that gave India the access to foreign suppliers without giving up its arms or slowing down its nuclear programme.
India had formally moved its application on May 12 for membership and the grouping will take up the application of India in its plenary meetings on June 9 in Vienna and June 24 in Seoul.
The NSG supervise critical matters relating to the nuclear sector. This membership will lead India to expand its atomic energy sector.
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8 June 2016
Avni S. Singh