America's premier trade body has projected that the Indo-US nuclear deal could revitalise the US nuclear industry and support 2.5 lakh high-tech jobs in the country, much higher than the estimate of the Bush Administration.

Lobbying lawmakers to approve the 123 Agreement before the close of the 110th Congress, the world's largest business federation, the US Chamber of Commerce, says that if American companies are allowed to compete in India, even modestly, it could support 2.5 lakh high-tech jobs.

"If US companies are allowed to compete, a modest share of that business could support 250,000 high-tech American jobs," R Bruce Josten Executive Vice President of the apex body representing more than three million businesses, said in a recent letter to the US Congressmen.

With India's 34-year nuclear isolation now history, the opportunity for US companies today is tremendous, with an expected 30,000 to 60,000 MW of new nuclear generating capacity by 2030, representing a potential USD 150 billion of new investment, Josten said.

He emphasised that Congressional nod was essential to compete with French and Russian nuclear firms who are already operating in the Indian market.

At the same time, William J Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs, who testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last Friday had given a more modest figure of 3,000-5,000 new direct jobs and about 10,000-15,000 indirect jobs in the US if American firms won two bids for new nuclear plants in India.

Stating that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal enjoyed the support from the US nuclear industry, Burns had pointed out that New Delhi had indicated that it planned to import at least eight new 1,000-megawatt power reactors by 2012, and additional reactors in the years ahead.

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