US President George W. Bush signed into law yesterday a bill approved by Congress allowing civilian US nuclear trade with India, saying "It's a big deal ...between the world's two largest democracies."

"This agreement sends a signal to the world: nations that follow the path to democracy and responsible behavior will find a friend in the United States of America," Bush said at the signing ceremony.

"Even though the United States and India are separated by half the globe, we are natural partners as we head into the 21st century," Bush said.

Following Bush's signature to enact the landmark US-India civilian nuclear agreement, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee are due to sign the details of the agreement in Washington on Friday.

"On Friday at 4 o'clock (2000 GMT) the secretary will sign with the Indian foreign minister, Foreign Minister Mukherjee, the India Civil Nuclear Agreement," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters earlier in the day.

Last week, US Congress gave final approval to the legislation authorizing civilian nuclear trade with India, which built its atomic bombs outside the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

The United States imposed a ban on civilian nuclear trade with India after the latter's first nuclear test in 1974.

In July 2005, the United States agreed to share civilian nuclear technology and supply nuclear fuel to India in return for New Delhi's separating its civilian and military nuclear programs.

The two countries reached an agreement on civil nuclear cooperation in March 2006, under which India will get access to US civil nuclear technology on condition that India is to separate nuclear facilities for civilian and military use and open its nuclear facilities for inspection.

Strategic, diplomatic and economic ties between India and the United States have blossomed after New Delhi was quick to back Washington's war on terror after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

It was widely believed that the US-India nuclear deal represents a major policy shift for the United States.

In addition, the nuclear pact could open up around US$27 billion in investment in 18 to 20 nuclear plants in India over the next 15 years, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry.