Taking forward the bilateral ties, Canada will soon sign a deal with India to sell nuclear technology and uranium for civilian use.
Taking forward the bilateral ties, Canada will soon sign a deal with India to sell nuclear technology and uranium for civilian use, paving the way for opening up of the lucrative Indian market to this country's atomic exports for the first time in more than three decades.
"We're very close to having an agreement with India related to the civilian use of nuclear energy for the purpose of helping them meet their energy needs," Canadian International Trade Minister Stockwell Day said on Saturday at 32nd gala dinner organised by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC).
"I don't like to put an hour and a day on it, but these are fairly complicated agreements and we're just about there," he said. "There's just a few items left."`
Earlier, Shashishekhar M Gavai, India's High Commissioner to Canada, had said that officials of both sides had already exchanged the draft agreement and deal would be signed soon.
"An expert Canadian team was in Mumbai last month to work out, with the Atomic Energy Commission of India, final technical details and conditions under which business can be done," he said.
The pact, which sources said could be signed within three months, will open up the vast Indian market to Canadian nuclear exports for the first time in more than 30 years.
During the event on Saturday, Day also announced four new joint research projects worth 6.7 million dollars to boost research in health sector, including in the fields of malaria, cancer, nuclear medicine (Positron Emission Tomography or PET) and MRI and advanced diagnostic.
Ten eminent Indo-Canadians -- Suresh Thakrar, Terry Papneja, Soham Ajmera, Vivek Rao, Sonia Anand, Jamal Deen, Suraj Kumar Gupta, Hari Pandey, Asha Seth and Surinder (Pal) Ghumman -- were also honoured on the occasion for their excellence and outstanding contributions to Canadian economy.
Canadian Premier Stephen Harper and his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, in their messages, congratulated ICCC for its efforts in promoting bilateral trade and investment.
Besides Day, Indian High Commissioner Gavai; Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty; Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deepak Obhrai; Ontario Minister for Small Scale Industries, Harinder Takhar; Gurbax Singh Malhi and Ruby Dhalla, both member of Parliament; and Preeti Saran, Consul General of India, were among those present on the occasion
Gavai also presented a cheque for Rs 15 lakh as India's contribution to the Canadian side for advance research for sick children, under which five Indian medical professionals would be trained in Canada in the next three years and work for mutual benefits.
He announced that in 2011, India would hold the 'Indian Festival in Canada' in which top artists and performers from the country would educate Canadians about the Indian cultural heritage and emerging economic opportunities.
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