India is keen to accelerate economic ties with Canada as both countries are working on a number of bilateral agreements that will boost trade and investment between them, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said.
“We are discussing other instruments to further facilitate greater trade and commerce including a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement,” Krishna said on Monday after a meeting with his counterpart Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird.
“Both countries reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and agreed on further strengthening the relationship as there are exciting opportunities for trade and investment,” he said, adding that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit India soon.
S M Krishna invited Canadian investment in India in mining, agriculture and education. Reuters
The proposed Bilateral Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA) that aimed at protecting and promoting foreign investment through legally-binding rights and obligations would become reality soon, Krishna said.
“India-Canada relations have never been as close as they are today. These have been sustained more recently by a series of high level visits, including frequent interaction between our two Prime Ministers, both during visits to each others countries as well as at international summits,” the minister
said.
There is immense scope for further cooperation in a number of sectors,” Krishna said.Over 200 Indo-Canadians including S M Gavai, the High Commissioner of India for Canada Preeti Saran, Consul General of India Harinder Takhar, Minister of Government Services and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Later addressing a reception organised by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce and Consulate General of India, the minister invited Canadian investment in India particularly in mining, agriculture, agro-food processing, education and energy.
PTI
