NEWS RELEASES

December 19, 1996 No. 253

AXWORTHY TO VISIT INDIA TO PROMOTE BILATERAL CO-OPERATION AND OPEN NEW CANADIAN OFFICE

Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy today announced plans to visit India from January 8 to 14 to promote Canada-India economic ties and bilateral co-operation on a range of issues and to open a new Canadian office in Punjab.

"This visit is an excellent opportunity to build on the tremendous success of the Team Canada mission to India last January and engage in constructive discussions with India's leadership," said Mr. Axworthy. "With input from the private sector and support from Canada's Indo-Canadian community, Canada and India can forge a closer partnership in business and in our shared commitment to advance respect for human rights."

A community delegation, members of Parliament and leading members of the Indo-Canadian community, as well as a delegation of prominent Canadian business leaders, will accompany the Minister.

Mr. Axworthy's itinerary commences January 8 with a visit to New Delhi, where he will meet with his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister Inder Kumar Gujral, and other Indian leaders.

Mr. Axworthy is scheduled to meet with Indian non-governmental organizations involved in human rights and children's issues on January 9. He is expected to announce two Canadian International Development Agency projects in the area of human rights and child labour during a visit to the Bengal Services Society, an organization dedicated to the welfare of children.

While in Calcutta on January 10, the Minister will attend the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit, the annual premier gathering of Indian and international business persons held in India. Mr. Axworthy will be accompanied by the business delegation, which will be able to explore opportunities within the Indian market. Mr. Axworthy will deliver a keynote address to the CII on their second annual "Canada Day," as first designated during Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's visit to India in January 1996.

On January 13, Mr. Axworthy will visit Chandigarh, where he will open a new Canadian office to facilitate trade and the visa application process in this region. This office has been established to enhance people-to-people contacts, particularly with Canadians of Indian descent who trace their roots to the Punjab.

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A list of the business delegation to date is attached.

For further information, media representatives may contact:

Catherine Lappe

Director of Communications

Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs

(613) 995-1851

Media Relations Office

Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade

(613) 995-1874

This document is also available on the Department's Internet site: http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca

VISIT TO INDIA BY

FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER LLOYD AXWORTHY

Business Delegation*

Alberta Research Council, Edmonton, Alberta

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Toronto, Ontario

Global Thermal Electric, Calgary, Alberta

Hughes Canada Information Technology Centre, Calgary, Alberta

Intermap Technologies, Calgary, Alberta

K-Lynn Mix & Filter Systems, Whitecourt, Alberta

MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates Ltd., Richmond, British Columbia

Manulife Financial, Toronto, Ontario

Nortel, Mississauga, Ontario

Northwest Pipe & Supply Co. Ltd., Calgary, Alberta

Oilco Services & Supply Ltd., Nisku, Alberta

PCI, Richmond Hill, Ontario

Petrocare Services Ltd., Edson, Alberta

Pipetronix, Concord, Ontario

Proactive Technology Training Ltd., Calgary, Alberta

Resources Kitaskino XXI Inc., Trois-Rivières, Quebec

SNC Lavalin Group Inc., Montreal, Quebec

TYDAC Research Inc., Nepean, Ontario

UMA Geomatics, Edmonton, Alberta

Wilson International Trade Consultants Inc., Edmonton, Alberta

* As of December 19, 1996