India seeks South Korea's support for NSG membership

Seoul, Mar.25 (ANI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday asked South Korea to support India's bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and other international regimes.

"I requested the South Korean President (Lee Myung bak) for its (South Korea's) support to India's quest to join international regimes such as the Nuclearuppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Group, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement," Singh told reporters after holding delegation-level talks with South Korean President Lee Myung bak.

After sealing a civil nuclear agreement with the United States in 2008 and getting a waiver from the NSG and the IAEA, India has been campaigning to muster support for its membership in the NSG and other international regimes.

Prime Minister Singh also offered Indian manufactured space vehicles to launch Korean satellites.

"We discussed ways and means to enhance cooperation between our scientists and technicians, including how to operationalise a joint science and technology fund of 10 million dollars. India has also offered to launch Korean satellites on Indian space launch vehicles," Singh said.

Both India and South Korea have also decided to scale up bilateral trade from the current level of 20 billion dollars to 40 billion dollars by 2015.

South Korea is keen to play a role in India's infrastructure expansion plan.

Prime Minister Singh has also invited small and medium size Korean companies to invest in India.

"I invited Korean firms to invest in India in a big way. Companies such as LG, Hyundai and Samsung are already household names in India. We wouldike to see small and medium sized Korean companies also making India a base for their manufacturing," Singh said.

India and South Korea also signed an agreement on simplifying visa proceedures.

Singh told reporters that the agreement will help Korean businessmen to travel to India. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)