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Dear
Reader,
Greetings. The
power of atom
is double-edged.
It can be harnessed
for producing
electricity; it
can also be used
to make weapons
of mass destruction,
namely atom bombs.
India, which imploded
a nuclear device
as far back as
1974, subsequently
developed the
atomic weapons
know-how. India
has not signed
the Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT) and
kept her right
to conduct further
nuclear tests.
No doubt, India's
progress on the
weapons' front
is phenomenal.
However, the country's
record in turning
nuclear energy
into much-needed
electricity is
very poor and
precisely for
this reason the
recently concluded
civilian nuclear
energy treaty
between India
and the United
States assumes
significance.
While the treaty,
known as the 123
Agreement ensures
transfer of the
highly-guarded
US technology,
India would need
the fuel, produced
from Uranium.
Coming at this
juncture, Australia's
decision to sell
uranium to India
has brought great
relief to Prime
Minister Manmohan
Singh, who is
strongly defending
the 123 Agreement
in the face of
bitter criticism
from opposition
political parties.
The cover story
of the current
issue of Indo-Australian
Business reports
in detail, the
significance of
the Australian
gesture. Australia
is a major supplier
of uranium to
many countries
across the globe
and the current
issue lays its
focus on uranium
mining in that
country. As the
Asia and Pacific
region emerges
as a huge market
for Information
and Communication
Technology (ICT)
products and services,
Australia stands
to gain by virtue
of its location
as well as the
tremendous strides
it has made in
various segments
of the knowledge
industry. We carry
an in-depth report
prepared by Invest
Australia on the
fast-growing ICT
industry of that
country. India's
leading bio-technology
companies recently
hosted Bio 2007,
a global event,
in Bangalore in
which Australia
participated in
a big way. Some
important deals
were made during
the three-day
conference where
as many as 500
one-to-one business
meetings took
place. The issue
covers the event
in detail. Australian
biotechnology
firms were among
the front runners
in raising funds
from the capital
market through
IPOs during the
first half of
2007, accounting
for nearly $500
million. We carry
a report. For
eight days, from
13 to 20 October
2007, Adelaide
will become a
paradise for food-lovers.
The Sixth Biennial
Tasting Australia
festival will
offer delicacies
from across the
globe, including
India. We present
a curtain raiser
for the event,
where renowned
chefs would be
competing fiercely
for the honours
to the gourmets'
delight. As usual,
the issue carries
all other regular
features.
Wish you happy
reading,
Satya
Swaroop
Managing Editor
satya@newmediacomm.biz |
