India’s quest for energy security continues on course with New Delhi close to finalising an umbrella nuclear agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy with this energy-rich Central Asian country. In addition, India is also close to signing a contract with Kazakhstan for exploration and production from an oil block in a country known for its rich reserves of hydrocarbons.

External affairs minister S.M. Krishna made a strong pitch for increasing trade ties between India and Kazakhstan during a meeting of the India-Kazakhstan Business Forum in the Kazakh capital on Wednesday.