AKIPRESS.COM - India has signed a long-term contract with Uzbekistan for supply of uranium ore concentrates to widen its source base for the nuclear fuel.

The contract was exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is attending the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar. The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said that the Department of Atomic Energy (DEA) and Novoi Minerals & Metallurgical Company of Uzbekistan exchanged the contract, All India Radio reported. 

Uzbekistan is the seventh largest exporter of uranium in the world.

The Exim Bank signed an agreement with Uzbekistan to extend a 200-million US dollar line of credit for financing housing and social infrastructure projects. The credit line was announced by Mr Modi during the official visit of Mirziyoyev last October to New Delhi. Mr Modi held talks with Mr Mirziyoyev.

Prime Minister Modi also held separate meetings with his Maltese counterpart Joseph Muscat, Czech counterpart Andrej Babis and Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar in a tweet said Mr Modi and Mr Muscat discussed the growing economic linkages between the two nations. They also agreed to enhance mutual cooperation in sectors such as renewable energy, pharma and healthcare, air connectivity and tourism.

Prime Minister Modi in his interaction with Czech leader discussed trade, technology and investment, cooperation in defence, high-tech manufacturing, heavy engineering automobiles and civil aviation. He also discussed bilateral relationship with Danish counterpart the trade and investment in renewable energy, waste management, agriculture and food processing.

Mr Modi also held meetings with Minister Menno Snel of the Netherlands, Governor General-Designate Australia General David Hurley and Japanese Minister Yoshihiko Isozaki.