The government has said that the nuclear energy sector will be opened to foreign direct investment, FDI. Speaking at the Assocham nuclear meet in New Delhi this morning, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, Mr V. Narayanasamy, however, added that the policy on FDI in nuclear energy is still to be evolved and the final decision has still to be taken.

AIR correspondent reports, the Commerce and Industry Minister Mr Anand Sharma had earlier said at the India-France CEO Forum, that India is expected to get foreign investment of over 100 billion dollars in nuclear energy in the next 20 years, of which a quarter would come from France.

French nuclear energy majors Areva and Alstom are actively pursuing business interest in India. However, some of the proposed nuclear plants such as Jaitapur in Maharashtra are facing protests from the locals.