Agenda Item - 7 Strengthening the Agency’s activities related to Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications

International Atomic Energy Agency

Board of Governors’ Meetings

(September, 2020)

Agenda Item - 7

Strengthening the Agency’s activities related to Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications

Statement by the Governor for India

Ambassador Jaideep Mazumdar

Madam Chair

We associate with the G-77 and China Statement delivered by the distinguished Ambassador of Philippines and would like to add a few additional remarks in our national capacity.

1. We appreciate the Agency's role in this area with special emphasis on supporting the development of nuclear applications in Member States with a view to strengthening infrastructures and fostering science, technology and engineering for meeting sustainable growth and development goals.
2. We welcome the Agency’s efforts in supporting member states embarking on new nuclear power programmes, in addition to those with existing nuclear power programmes.
3. We also appreciate the steps taken by the Agency in relation to innovative reactor systems, including fast neutron systems, high temperature reactors and thermo-nuclear experimental reactors, that would lay the foundation for Member States to plan construction and operation of these systems in the coming decade.
4. The support provided by the Agency in relation to the small and medium sized or modular reactors (SMRs), to develop key enabling technologies, would enhance energy availability and supply both in expanding and embarking countries. We encourage the Agency to continue its support in this area as the SMRs have the potential to play an important role in diverse applications.
5. We note the strengthening of the Agency’s activities in the area of fusion science and technology and the signing of practical agreements with International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) organization. India has been actively participating in the ITER project and we are pleased to state that we have contributed the single largest state of the art equipment of the ITER project – “the CRYOSTAT” that will house the whole tokamak in its womb.

Madam Chair

1. India believes that apart from the reactor technology area, the Agency’s programme and achievements under nuclear applications in food and agriculture, human health and nutrition, water resource management, protection of the environment, and industry are important in meeting the aspirations of developing countries. In this context, the Agency´s support to Member States in the field of medical and industrial radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals production and in exploring the use of accelerators for various radiation technology applications deserve special mention.
2. We also appreciate the Agency’s collaborations and joint initiatives with various United Nations organizations, including WHO, to address the issues of malnutrition and non-communicable diseases. India welcomes the IAEA’s initiative to eliminate or control eliminate or control tsetse-transmitted trypanosomosis by Sterile Insect Technique.
3. India has developed a National Cancer Grid (NCG) with the broad vision of creating uniform standards of cancer care across the country, comprising of all the stakeholders in cancer care, including cancer centres, research institutes, patient advocacy groups, charitable organizations and professional societies. Within the span of eight years, the National Cancer Grid has become a powerful tool for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease. There are 224 hospitals that are members of national cancer grid.
4. We welcome the strengthening of Agency’s cooperation with United Nations Organizations and its programs which would serve the cause of addressing climate change in a more effective manner.
5. India welcomes the announcement of “The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP)”. Qualified gender balanced workforce is a per-requisite for all Member States to combat multiple challenges like changing climate, growing populations, food insecurity and increased energy demand. This initiative will serve the goal of maintaining a qualified workforce and representation of women in research areas allied with nuclear science and technology.

Madam Chair

With these comments, our delegation endorses the recommended actions contained in document GOV /2020/28 -GC (64)/5*

Thank You, Madam Chair