Canada and India - A new era in relationship

[Ruag]

India and Canada are moving to jolt stagnant trade ties, concluding a series of trade-related deals, including opening nuclear commerce and starting the first phase toward a free-trade agreement.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit Mumbai and Delhi between Nov. 15 and 18 and meet with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, sources said, a visit that is intended as a turning point.

Although India is a fast-rising economic power, Canada is only its 26th-largest supplier of goods and services. Many believed Delhi, courted for trade by many countries, had little interest in Canada.

Last week, India's Commerce Secretary, Rahul Kullar, met in Ottawa with Trade Minister Stockwell Day and other officials and signalled that after years of little progress, Delhi wants real advances in trade.

A long-awaited deal on investment, an agreement on energy exchanges, and an accord that allows Canada's nuclear industry to sell to India are expected within about month, he said, along with a green light to start the long process toward a broader free-trade agreement.

"The minister [Mr. Day] told me ... 'Look, six of us have been up and down, up and down, between here and India in the last six months. How much more do you want to know that we want to engage,'" Mr. Khullar said in an interview in Ottawa. "And my response is, you'll see us coming back to get this going."

At least some of those agreements, like an accord for greater co-operation on energy exchanges, are expected to be signed during Mr. Harper's visit.

Last year, Ottawa shifted long-standing policy and backed India's move to join the world's civilian nuclear trade even though it had used Canadian nuclear technology to develop nuclear weapons. Harper government ministers trooped to the subcontinent, but advances were slow.

Now India, seeking to diversify its trade after the recession hit big markets such as the United States and Europe, is prepared to move aggressively, Mr. Khullar indicated.

He said he wants to approve a batch of trade-related agreements as a signal of change.

A long-delayed bilateral investment protection agreement is down to one or two minor points, he said. A memorandum of understanding on developing energy ties is essentially completed.

Canada, India near new era of trade - The Globe and Mail

 

[Ruag]

Harper Heads to India

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that he will travel to India from November 16 to 18, following his participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Singapore from November 14 to 15.

“There is a tremendous amount of potential in our relationship with India,” said the Prime Minister. “We share a history of cooperation in the Commonwealth and the United Nations, as well as a shared commitment to pluralism, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Our goal is to build a stronger, more dynamic partnership based on shared commercial, political and regional interests.”

The Prime Minister’s visit follows eleven ministerial-level visits to India since 2006. In addition, the Government of Canada has opened new trade offices in Hyderabad, Calcutta and Ahmedabad in 2009, bringing the total number of diplomatic and commercial offices in the country to eight.

India has one of the world’s fastest growing economies and trade between India and Canada is increasing. The strength of ties between the two countries is also reflected in the estimated one million Canadians of Indian origin and the 7,300 Indian students who are currently studying in Canada.

Harper Heads to India

 

[PlanetWarrior]

Considering the large number of Indian and Pakistani ex pats in Canada it would be wise for India to give serious attention to enhancing trade with Canada.