Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has met his Indian counterpart in New Delhi and defended Australia's decision not to sell uranium to India.

Mr Ferguson is the third federal minister to visit India since the Rudd Government took office and says he has determined to step up engagement between the two countries.

Mr Ferguson says countries such as India and China are crucial to Australia as the global financial crisis continues.

"Of course we're going to suffer over the next 12 to 18 months, but we're still pretty well placed because there is growth in those countries and they want Australia's raw materials," he said.

But Mr Ferguson says Australia will not sell uranium to India, which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.