IANS

Abu Dhabi, Feb 20: Representatives of 40 US companies will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to boost cooperation in the civilian nuclear energy sector, WAM news agency reported.

The three-day visit of the 50-member US delegation is sponsored by the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the US-UAE Business Council.

The delegation, which will head for the UAE this weekend, will meet representatives of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Nuclear Energy Programme Implementation Organisation and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

The Korean firm leads a consortium that also include Pittsburgh-based Westinghouse, to build nuclear energy plants in the UAE.

"We are delighted to be the first country to lead a trade delegation to the UAE in the civil nuclear energy sector after the selection of the prime contractor. US companies are ideally positioned to compete for this business," said Danny Sebright, president of the council, Thursday.

"NEI has been impressed with how the UAE has constructed its nuclear energy programme, particularly its extensive cooperation with the IAEA (UN nuclear watchdog) and responsible governments, and with the high standards of safety, security and operational transparency being put in place," said Lisa Steward, NEI's senior director.

The development of a strong nuclear energy infrastructure will bring clean, reliable electricity to the UAE's citizens, and holds the potential to bring thousands of new nuclear energy-related jobs to the US manufacturing and service sector," said Steward.

The US-based NEI is a policy organisation of the nuclear energy and technologies industry and participates in both national and global policy-making process.

The US and the UAE signed a civilian nuclear energy cooperation pact that came into force in December 2009.