New Delhi: Terming the enactment of law by the US on civil nuclear cooperation as an "important step" forward in bilateral ties, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said it was vital for enlarging India's developmental options and thanked the Indian-American community for playing a role in this endeavour. Inaugurating the 5th 'Pravasi Bharatiya Divas' (PBD) -- a congregation of Indian diaspora -- here, he said the US action would enable that country to engage in civil nuclear cooperation with India as also other members of the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

"We are happy that the United States has adopted a legislation that will enable the US to engage in cooperation with India in the field of civil nuclear energy," Singh said while referring to the month-old development.

The Henry J Hyde US-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act became law last month, ending the over 30-year nuclear isolation of India.

"This is an important step forward not just in India-US bilateral relations and also as an essential first step that will enable India to engage in cooperation in the civil nuclear field with other countries that are members of the NSG," he told the conference being attended by about 1200 Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and NRIs.