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<title>PETTIGREW INVITES CANADIAN COMPANIES TO INDIA</title>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>March 27, 2002 <em>(2:25 p.m. EST)</em> No. 30</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>PETTIGREW INVITES CANADIAN COMPANIES TO INDIA</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew invites companies to participate in the trade mission he will lead to
Mumbai and New Delhi, India, from April 21 to 26 to strengthen bilateral relations and foster increased
economic cooperation between the two countries.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"Our re-engagement with India presents enormous opportunities for greater economic and political
cooperation," said Minister Pettigrew. "This is a potentially massive market for Canadian goods, services and
technology."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Minister Pettigrew today launched the inaugural India Trade Mission Web site. The site (<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220181852/http://www.tcm-mec.gc.ca/india/">http://www.tcm-mec.gc.ca/india/</a>) contains information on the mission, the sectors targeted and the opportunities available to
Canadian companies in India.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">India is the world's largest democracy. It is also the gateway to South Asia, a broad market with a population of
1.3 billion that presents tremendous opportunities for economic cooperation. The Indian economy has changed
dramatically since 1991, when India launched its program of economic reforms and trade and investment
liberalization, which brought prosperity to millions of people.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">In 2001, Canada-India bilateral trade in merchandise totalled $1.78 billion; merchandise exports to India grew
to $620.8 million and imports from India expanded to $1.154 billion. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The mission will build on the current trading relationship and promote Canada's capabilities and attractions as
an investment partner in a number of sectors, including: information technology and telecommunications,
power, transportation and infrastructure, environment, oil and gas, housing and building products, financial and
business services, education, automotive, and food and agri-business.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">- 30 - </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Sébastien Théberge</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Office of the Minister for International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 992-7332</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220181852/http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/"><font face="Arial">http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca</a></font></p>
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